ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agency Staff

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people are employed by the Rural Payments Agency; what the running cost of the Agency was in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement on the future of the Agency.

Alun Michael: The number of people employed by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) as at 1 December 2004 was 3,699 (3,543 full-time time equivalents).
	The total net running cost of RPA in 2003–04, including change programme costs was £198 million.
	The RPA is a major, customer-facing delivery arm of Defra providing a range of services in support of the Department's objectives. It is the 'Paying Agency' for pillars 1 and 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) within England, has a UK remit for trader schemes, and responsibility for the traceability of cattle in Great Britain. As such, it will deliver CAP Reform in England and administer the single payment scheme to farmers from 2005. There are currently no plans to alter these functions.

Bass Trawler Fishing

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with EU Fisheries Ministers on introducing a ban across the EU on bass trawler fishing.

Ben Bradshaw: In the light of the European Commission rejection of the UK case for an emergency closure of the pelagic pair trawl fishery for bass in the Western Channel, which was copied to Fisheries Directors of all member states, I announced that the UK would introduce a prohibition on the UK fishery within 12 miles of the south west coast of England. I intend to put a request to the European Commission to have the 12 mile prohibition applied to vessels from other member states operating in this area. In practice, other than UK vessels, the ban would only impact on a small number of French vessels who pair trawl for bass in the 12 mile area. I have passed in person a letter to the French Minister setting out the UK case and seeking his support for the prohibition. Officials have also discussed the measures with their French colleagues at a recent Commission meeting on this issue.

Beef

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what timetable she has set for the lifting of (a) the over-30-month scheme and (b) the export ban on British beef;
	(2)  when she expects the over-30-month scheme to end.

Alun Michael: Defra will consult the industry and the EU Commission on the shape and duration of a successor to the OTMS, which will be required to dispose of cattle born before 1 August 1996.
	Any changes in the domestic over-30-month (OTM) rule and the over-30-month scheme (OTMS) are unlikely to come into effect until the latter half of 2005. Changes in export restrictions are not expected to come into effect until late 2005.

Cattle

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made on the review of the Cattle Identification Regulations.

Ben Bradshaw: The review of the Cattle Identification Regulations 1998 (as amended) is currently at the planning stage. We are expecting to work with stakeholders on the extent and scope of the review early next year. Depending on the outcome of these discussions, it is expected that the required public consultation will take place in the first half of 2005.

Cattle

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to protect buyers of calves that have been sold without a British Cattle Movement Service passport.

Ben Bradshaw: It is for the recipient of cattle to ensure that the animal is accompanied by appropriate documentation.

Common Fisheries Policy

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the application of the precautionary principle in the Common Fisheries Policy.

Ben Bradshaw: We take very seriously the need to conserve fish stocks, and thus provide a good basis for a viable fishing industry. We continue to believe that managing fish stocks on the basis of precautionary reference points designed to keep biomass and fishing mortality well away from levels at which stocks risk collapse is the best way to proceed. The precautionary principle is an integral part of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) but the commitment of the member states and the Commission is required to make sure it is applied. It also underpins the advice produced by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea in which the UK participates.

Departmental Estate

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) her Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which she has had responsibility in each of the last two years.

Alun Michael: The information requested in respect of the Department and its agencies is set out as follows. The Department does not hold centrally information about properties occupied by other public bodies.
	During the last two years, there were a total of 10 empty properties owned by the Department. These comprised:
	Four former MAFF Buffer Depots which were in the course of disposal, the total value of which was £1.535 million.
	A former Buffer Depot at Rhydymwyn on contaminated land (nil value);
	A former Central Science Laboratory site at Harpenden (value £2 million) and former CEFAS site at Conwy (£0.3 million) both of which were in the course of disposal;
	A site formerly occupied by Horticulture Research International at Efford which became vacant in October 2003 (value £4.5 million) and is currently being marketed for sale;
	Two properties empty for the purpose of refurbishment—55 Whitehall (value £4 million) and 3–8 Whitehall Place (£8.5 million).
	Details of their annual costs and values are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 Estimated annual cost1 of empty core Defra properties 
			 2002–03 1.11 
			 2003–04 0.97 
			   
			 Estimated annual cost1 of empty Defra agency properties 
			 2002–03 0 
			 2003–04 0 
			   
			 Estimated total value2 of empty core Defra properties 
			 2002–03 16.34 
			 2003–04 20.54 
			   
			 Estimated total value2 of empty Defra agency properties 
			 2002–03 0 
			 2003–04 0 
		
	
	(1) Includes rent, capital charge, service charge and rates, maintenance and facilities management. Includes the cost of property empty for the purposes of refurbishment.
	(2) Based on Valuation Office Agency valuation. Includes the value of property empty for the purposes of refurbishment.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many departmental mobile telephones were used by Ministers, special advisers and officials in her Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997; at what cost; how many such telephones were lost or stolen in each year since 1997; and what the replacement costs were in each case.

Alun Michael: The number of mobile phones held by the Department as at 14 December 2004 is 3,473, of which 46 are the responsibility of the Department's Secretariat. No information is held centrally on the number of phones which have been lost or stolen.
	The total payment made to Defra's primary mobile phone contractors for the 12 months to December 2004 is £529,125.23. This includes rental, call charges, mobile phones and accessories. All contracts in place comply with the OGC negotiated contract.
	Centralised records were not established until last year, so no details are available for earlier years.

Dolphins

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will release the post-mortem findings for the dolphins that have been washed up on shores in the South Hams since August.

Ben Bradshaw: The post-mortem findings for cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) washed up on the shores of South Hams since August 2004 are as follows:
	
		
			 Species Age/sex Date found Location Cause of death 
		
		
			 Harbour porpoise Juvenile male 14 September 2004 Soar Mill Cove Physical trauma (bottlenose dolphin attack) 
			 Common dolphin Adult female 17 November 2004 Thurlstone Live stranding (pending histopathology) 
			 Harbour porpoise Juvenile male 25 November 2004 East Prawle Enteritis/peritonitis 
			 Common dolphin Juvenile male 28 November 2004 Thurlstone Physical trauma (bycatch)

Fisheries

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the geographical restrictions and closed areas which apply to (a) specific types of fishing activity, (b) all commercial fishing activity, (c) demersal fishing and (d) pelagic fishing in United Kingdom territorial waters; and which areas have restrictions which apply (i) all year round and (ii) during part of the year.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 Closed areas which apply to specific types of fishing activity 
			 Nursery Areas for bass 37 areas in estuaries and around the coast of England and Wales closed, by the UK Government, to bass fishing to protect juveniles 
			 The Wash A ban introduced by UK Government in 1998 on dredging for razor shells, trough shells and carpet shells to protect the Wash and North Norfolk candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) 
			 Sandeel Box Area (the Wee Bankie) off the North-east coast of the UK, part of which falls within territorial waters, where industrial fishing has been banned since 2000 by the EU to protect the food species of a range of predators including sea-birds 
			 Pout box Area to the east of Scotland, Orkney and the Shetland Islands, part of which falls within territorial waters, closed to all towed gear by EU measures to protect other roundfish. 
			 Herring boxes Areas within UK territorial waters in the north-east Irish Sea, Butt of Lewis, Clyde estuary, north east England are closed during spawning periods to targeted herring fishing to protect herring stocks. 
			 Fal and Helford Estuaries A ban introduced by UK Government in 2003 on dredging for scallops to protect the Fal and Helford cSAC 
			 Solent A ban introduced by UK Government in 2004 on the use 
			 European of "pump scoop" dredges to protect the Solent European 
			 Marine Site Marine Site. 
			   
			 Closed areas which apply to demersal fishing 
			 Irish Sea Area, part of which falls within territorial waters, closed each spring since 2000 through EU measures, to targeted fishing for cod in Spring as part of Irish Sea Cod Recovery Plan to protect spawning cod 
			 Clyde estuary Area closed, by the Scottish Executive, each spring since2001 to demersal trawls to protect spawning cod. 
			   
			 Closed areas which apply to pelagic fishing 
			 Mackerel box Area off the south west coast of England and Wales, part of which falls within territorial waters, closed to pelagic trawls since1989 through EU measures to protect juvenile mackerel. 
			 Sprat Boxes Areas off Northumberland and Tyne and Wear (part of which falls within territorial waters), in the Moray Firth and the Firth of Forth closed seasonally to fishing for sprat through EU measures in order to protect herring stocks. 
		
	
	In addition to these closures Sea Fisheries Committees have also restricted fishing in a number of areas around the English and Welsh coast. In particular Devon Sea Fisheries Committee introduced a total fishing ban around the Isle of Lundy in 2003 to protect the Lundy Marine Nature Reserve. Similarly, the Scottish Executive has implemented a variety of prohibitions on fishing in Scottish inshore Waters.
	Ports occupied by the Royal Navy often exclude all fishing activity from areas close to anchorages and navigation channels. Other areas closed to fishing are historic wrecks and oil and gas installations, of which there are many in coastal and offshore waters.

Foot and Mouth

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to public funds was of the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak; how much was requested by the UK Government from the European Commission to contribute towards meeting these costs; and how much was contributed by the Commission.

Ben Bradshaw: The cost to the UK public funds of the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak was about £3 billion. The United Kingdom requested £960 million for re-imbursement from the European Commission which represented 60 per cent. of the total eligible costs (£1.6 billion). Of this the UK will receive some £350 million from the EC. This is the largest proportion of the costs of a disease outbreak ever received by a member state from the commission.

Foot and Mouth

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what response the (a) European Commission and (b) European Court of Auditors made to her Department's request for funding to assist in meeting the cost of dealing with the consequences of the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak.

Ben Bradshaw: Following a full and detailed audit of the United Kingdom's claim for re-imbursement following the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak the European Commission has agreed a total payment of £350 million to the UK in settlement of our claim of £960 million.
	In their report the Commission acknowledged the unprecedented scale of the 2001 FMD outbreak. The comments in the report centred on their opinion that the valuers employed by Defra had overvalued the animals culled, and that the Department had overpaid for goods and services.
	As part of their audit of the European Commission, the European Court of Auditors made similar comments to those of the Commission and the NAO in regard to the unprecedented scale of the outbreak and with the regard to the overpayments and certain technical and financial inadequacies.
	The UK will continue to work with the EU Commission, the EGA and other member states to ensure that the lessons learned from the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001 are applied.

Hague Preference

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the application of the Hague Preference; and in what circumstances she is prepared to invoke it.

Ben Bradshaw: Hague Preference (HP) is a Common Fisheries Policy mechanism designed to adjust national fish quota allocations to take account of the needs of certain fisheries dependent areas in northern parts of the UK and in the Republic of Ireland. These arrangements can provide additional fishing opportunities to the UK and the Republic of Ireland when quotas for certain stocks fall below determined trigger levels.
	When either or both of the UK and Ireland gain from the operating of Hague Preference, this is at the expense of the other member states having quotas in the fishery concerned.
	We have refrained from invoking Hague Preference in some cases where stocks are seriously depleted, as in these cases the full operation of Hague Preference could transfer the bulk—or in some cases all—of other member states' allocations to the UK.

Solar Chimneys

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies her Department has made of the practical applications of large-scale Manzanares-style solar chimneys.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	The DTI has not made a specific study on the practical applications of large scale Manzanares-style solar chimneys. In the most recent report on the potential for renewables energy—Renewables Innovation Review February 2004—recommendations on solar related to photovoltaics only.
	However the results of the Manzanares solar chimney project are widely reported. The technology is relatively inefficient as a means of converting sunlight into electricity (less than 1 per cent. of sunlight converted to electricity). In addition, to create significant power requires a high tower and a vast collection area. In addition there may be environmental impact considerations.
	The company EnviroMission are proposing to build the first commercial scale power plant based on this technology in Melbourne, Australia. To produce 200 MW at a practical efficiency in this high solar gain area will require a tower of about 1 km high and a collection area of 40 square kilometres. The DTI will consider reviewing this technology when further results from the Australian project are available.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the attributable interviews that her Department's special advisers gave to (a) newspapers, (b) journals, (c) books and (d) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Alun Michael: All Special Advisers' contacts with the media are required to be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Special Advisers.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs f she will list the attributable (a) articles and (b) contributions that her Department's special advisers made to (i) newspapers, (ii) journals, (iii) books and (iv) other media in their official capacity between 31March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Alun Michael: All Special Advisers' contacts with the media are required to be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the "Code of Conduct of Special Advisers"

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 departmental special advisers travelled (a) domestically and (b) abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost.

Alun Michael: All travel by the special advisers has been undertaken in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code. During this period the special advisers have visited, in an official capacity, the following places/countries at a cost listed in the following table.
	
		
			 Date Country/place £ 
		
		
			 25–27 April 2003 France 483.90 
			 5–8 May 2003 Spain and Italy 1,316.39 
			 20–23 May 2003 Ukraine 3,224.03 
			 26 May 2003 Belgium 1,051.23 
			 11–13 June 2003 Luxemburg 731.68 
			 25–26 June 2003 Luxemburg 851.28 
			 30 June 2003 Stoneleigh, UK 448.99 
			 9–16 September 2003 Mexico 4,599.66 
			 5–6 October 2003 Italy 927.06 
			 12–13 October 2003 Italy 1,885.94 
			 9–13 December 2003 Italy 643.40 
			 15–16 January 2004 Switzerland 566.50 
			 2 March 2004 Belgium 259.00 
			 Total  16,989.06

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints were made by departmental civil servants regarding the conduct of special advisers between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by the then Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Ruth Kelly) on 8 December 2004, Official Report, column 578W.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether departmental special advisers have made speeches in their official capacity since May 1997.

Alun Michael: Any speeches made by special advisers in an official capacity are required to be conducted in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Turkeys

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of turkeys sold for the fresh meat Christmas market which were produced and slaughtered in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many United Kingdom produced turkeys have been slaughtered for (a) domestic consumption, (b) catering and (c) processing industries in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(3)  how much and what proportion of supplies of (a) fresh and frozen retail, (b) catering and (c) other (i) turkey, (ii) chicken and (iii) other poultry in the UK was imported in each of the last five years for which records are available;
	(4)  how much turkey, produced in the United Kingdom broken down by (a) weight and (b) number of head, was exported to (i) European Union member states and (ii) third countries in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Alun Michael: Assuming the majority of turkey meat consumed during the Christmas period will have been slaughtered or imported during the final quarter of that year, the following table provides an estimate of the proportion of the Christmas market met from UK production. Figures are provided thousand tonnes carcase weight equivalent to provide comparability.
	
		Turkeys (October-December)
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Production 69 70 71 65 67 
			 Imports 18 11 14 15 21 
			 Exports 16 24 21 21 24 
			 Supply (3) 70 57 64 58 64 
			 Proportion of UK supply which was UK produced(4)(percentage) 75 80 78 75 68 
		
	
	(3) Production plus imports less exports
	(4) Production less exports as percentage of supply
	It is not possible to identify separately the use of turkey, chicken and other poultry for domestic household consumption, catering or processing industries. The following tables provides statistics on the total production and supply of turkey meat, chicken and other poultry in thousand tonnes carcase weight equivalent to provide comparability. Estimates are then derived on the proportion of total supplies sourced from imports.
	
		Turkeys
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Production 267 255 253 238 229 
			 Imports 50 38 35 47 55 
			 Exports 78 74 78 76 78 
			 Supply 239 219 210 209 206 
			 Imports as percentage of supply 21 18 17 23 27 
		
	
	
		Chickens
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Production 1,238 1,216 1,263 1,270 1,292 
			 Imports 276 290 282 285 306 
			 Exports 83 74 76 105 142 
			 Supply 1,431 1,431 1,469 1,450 1,456 
			 Imports as percentage of supply 19 20 19 20 21 
		
	
	
		Other Poultry
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Production 44 43 50 46 46 
			 Imports 23 27 29 34 30 
			 Exports 25 26 32 33 23 
			 Supply 42 44 47 48 53 
			 Imports as percentage of supply 55 61 62 72 57 
		
	
	
		Total Poultry Meat
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Production 1,548 1,514 1,566 1,554 1,567 
			 Imports 349 355 346 367 391 
			 Exports 186 174 186 214 243 
			 Supply 1,711 1,695 1,726 1,707 1,715 
			 Imports as percentage of supply 20 21 20 21 23 
		
	
	The following table provides details of UK exports of live turkeys and turkey meat and meat products. Exports of turkey meat and meat products are only available by weight.
	
		
			 Type  Units (per thousand) 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Live Chicks EU 15 head 2,214 2,128 1,922 1,593 1,635 
			  Non EU head 1,796 1,671 1,789 1,238 809 
			 Finished birds EC 15 tonnes 0.4 0.3 1.4 4.3 2.5 
			   head 135 105 170 382 186 
			  Non EU tonnes  0.0
			   head  2
			 Total live  tonnes 0.6 0.5 1.7 4.5 2.7 
			 Total live  head 4,145 3,906 3,881 3,214 2,631 
			 Meat EU 15 tonnes 27.4 30.8 32.4 26.1 31.8 
			  Non EU tonnes 26.0 13.1 7.9 9.4 12.3 
			 Total meat  tonnes 53.5 43.8 40.3 35.5 44.1 
		
	
	Note:
	Tonnage figures are provided in product weight
	Source:
	HM Customs and Excise

Urban Foxes

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the extent to which urban foxes within the Greater London area are caught and then released into a rural environment; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has made no assessment of this.
	It is not unlawful to trap foxes in live capture cage traps and to release them at the same or a different location as long as this is done humanely and as long as the fox is not abandoned in circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering.
	However, I should point out, that the Department advises against relocating foxes on welfare grounds, mainly due to their territorial nature.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Kettles

Anthony Steen: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what health and safety guidance led to the decision to remove kettles from communal facilities for hon. Members and office staff in outbuildings on the Parliamentary estate.

Archy Kirkwood: I have been asked to reply.
	The Serjeant at Arms is required to ensure that all electrical equipment in House of Commons buildings on the Parliamentary Estate meets health and safety requirements. When this is found not to be the case, the equipment is disposed of.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Leader of the House whether his Office's special advisers have been responsible for authorising instances of departmental spending since May 1997.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband) earlier today.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Leader of the House whether his Office's special advisers have given instructions to permanent civil servants without the explicit authorisation of Ministers since May 1997.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband) earlier today.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Leader of the House whether his Office's special advisers have written to external (a) bodies and (b) individuals in their official capacity since May 1997.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to him by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office (Ruth Kelly) on 14 December 2004

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Leader of the House whether his office's special advisers have made appearances before parliamentary select committees in their official capacity since May 1997.

Peter Hain: No.

WALES

Departmental Files

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether it is the policy of the Department to retain for the benefit of future (a) historians and (b) applicants under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the same (i) complete categories of files, (ii) numbers of files and (iii) representative examples of files from categories of files destroyed, as had been preserved prior to the passage of that Act.

Don Touhig: In accordance with the Public Records Act 1958 S.3, the selection of records of enduring historical value for permanent preservation at The National Archives (TNA) will continue to take place in the Wales Office under the guidance and supervision of TNA staff. The Wales Office will also comply with the Code of Practice on Records Management, issued by the Lord Chancellor under S.46 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which underlines the importance of having clear selection policies and disposal schedules in place.

Departmental Files

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many departmental files have been destroyed in each of the past five years.

Don Touhig: The Wales Office was established July 1999. Departmental policy is to destroy files after they have been closed for five years. Any files which have been closed for five years or more will be reviewed in January 2005 in accordance with the Wales Office selection policies and disposal schedules.

Departmental Websites

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department's .gov.uk websites comply with the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines adopted by the Government in 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The Wales Office websites-www.walesoffice.gov.uk and its parallel Welsh site www.swvddfacvmru.gov.uk-are compliant to the Accessibility Guidelines.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether departmental special advisers have attended meetings with external (a) bodies and (b) individuals, in their official capacity and without Ministers, since May 1997.

Peter Hain: Special advisers hold meetings with a wide range of external representatives in their official capacity. All such meetings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the "Code of Conduct for Special Advisers".

DEFENCE

Departmental Mobile Phones

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many departmental mobile telephones were used by (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department in each year since 1997; at what cost; how many such telephones were lost or stolen in each year since 1997; and what the replacement costs were in each case.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 6 December 2004
	Information relating to the number and cost of mobile telephones is only available from 1999.
	
		
			  Number Spend (5) (£ million) 
		
		
			 1999 6,656 2.637 
			 2000 8,964 2.656 
			 2001 10,958 2.368 
			 2002 13,808 3.395 
			 2003 17,084 3.965 
			 2004(6) 21,260 2.85 
		
	
	(5) Ex VAT.
	(6) To end September.
	This information is not broken down into numbers for Ministers, special advisers and officials. There are a small number of local agreements in place for which information is not available. Information relating to individual areas, the number and cost of replacement of lost or stolen mobile telephones is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the gender pay gap among staff in his Department.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence conducted in 2003 an equal pay audit of its civilian staff following the publication of the report by the Equal Opportunities Commission Equal Pay Task Force, "Just Pay", in March 2001. 1 am pleased to report that no major problems were identified.

Fraud

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) officers and (b) other armed forces personnel have been disciplined for the misuse of official cars since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 6 December 2004
	The information requested is as follows:
	Naval Service
	Three officers and four other ranks have been tried and convicted for offences relating to the misuse of official cars. Details of naval personnel dealt with at summary level are not available.
	Army
	One officer and 23 soldiers were tried by court martial and found guilty for offences relating to the misuse of all types of military vehicles. Details of those dealt with at summary level have been recorded centrally only since 2001. Between then and 2003, 113 soldiers have been tried at summary level for similar offences.
	RAF
	27 cases involving airmen were dealt with at summary level and two at courts martial, one of whom was found not guilty. There were no cases involving officers.

Gibraltar

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the Gibraltar Service Police Association (a) were not consulted on the changes to and (b) were not included in the distribution list for the Gibraltar Personnel Manual dated 17 November; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 9 December 2004
	Trade Union consultation for the development of the Gibraltar Personnel Manual is being undertaken through a sub committee of the Command Whitley, which is chaired jointly by a representative of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) and local MOD management. The TGWU, which represents the majority of Locally Employed Civilians working in Gibraltar, has collective bargaining authority to negotiate the Gibraltar Personnel Manual, in consultation with other unions as the TGWU deems necessary. The omission of the GSPSA from the distribution of 17 November was a regrettable oversight that has now been corrected.

Gibraltar

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) time off and (b) other facilities are available to the officials of the Gibraltar Service Police Association to enable them to fulfil their representative responsibilities and attend official meetings in Gibraltar and London; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 9 December 2004
	Members of the Gibraltar Services Police Association are entitled to time off and use of telephones, postal and other MOD resources in pursuance of Gibraltar Services Police Staff Association (GSPSA) business to a level agreed with the Chief Police Officer (CPO). The GSPSA has very recently written to the CPO articulating for the first time their requirements in respect of facility time, and resources needed. If the GSPSA attend an official meeting in London called by MOD then they will receive full support as do other unions. The subject of facility time was discussed further at a formal meeting with the GSPSA that was held in Gibraltar on 10 December.

Gibraltar

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects of Command Secretariat Temporary Memorandum No. 46/04, The Gibraltar Personnel Manual, dated 17 November on (a) each category of personnel and (b) existing manuals and practices.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 9 December 2004
	The Command Secretariat Temporary Memorandum No 46/04, the Gibraltar Personnel Manual, dated 17 November, notified staff of the publication of a chapter covering recruitment and will apply to all Gibraltar Locally Employed Civilians, unless there is a need for separate provisions for particular groups or classes. In the case of the Gibraltar Services Police (GSP), local management is in discussion with their representatives in a formal working group to develop particular regulations where needed. The Gibraltar Personnel Manual, when fully developed, will replace the UK MOD Civilian Personnel Manual and in part reflect Gibraltar employment law and customs.

Military Bands

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel are members of military bands in (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army, (c) the Royal Air Force and (d) the Royal Marines.

Ivor Caplin: The number of trained personnel in each Service's military bands are as follows:
	
		
			 Service Strength(7) 
		
		
			 Naval Service(8) 315 
			 Army 1,000 
			 Royal Air Force(9) 155 
		
	
	(7) Naval Service and Royal Air Force data are as at 1 November 2004, Army strength data are as at 14 December 2004.
	(8) Naval Service comprises Royal Navy and Royal Marines, Naval Service bands are provided by the Royal Marines' band service.
	(9) Royal Air Force figures exclude a combined total of 10 personnel based at HQ Music Services in Uxbridge and Plymouth Armed Forces Career Office.
	All figures include Officers and Other Ranks and have been rounded to the nearest five.

Service Medals

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service medals, broken down by type, are awaiting award to eligible service personnel; what the average waiting time is for personnel after completion of eligibility requirements for each award; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: As at 3 December 2004 there were 2,037 medals awaiting award to eligible service personnel and veterans. This figure is comprised of 46 Iraq Medals, 130 for service in the Suez Canal Zone and 1,861 other awards. Once eligibility has been established, medals are normally engraved and despatched within two weeks.

Service Medals

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Suez Canal Zone Medal will be made available to Mr. Rowland A Jones, Service Number 22662619; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Insufficient evidence is currently available to assess Mr. Jones' application for the Canal Zone medal. If Mr. Jones would like to telephone the Army Medal Office on 01905 772323 extension 8740 it should be possible to resolve his case.

Trafalgar Day Celebration

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish guidance issued by his Department to admirals speaking at dinners to celebrate Trafalgar Day this year.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 6 December 2004
	The Royal Navy attaches considerable importance to commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar, and Trafalgar Night dinners are an ideal opportunity for articulating to a wider audience the vision for today's Royal Navy. This year, while wishing to avoid being prescriptive about speech content, the Naval Staff circulated guidance to personnel at all levels which they may have found useful as aides memoire for speakers to highlight as key points. These were:
	"The Royal Navy (RN) has a tradition of being a world-beating navy. We have this tradition for a reason—good people, good training and good equipment—and also because we have been prepared to embrace change in the face of changing strategic situations.
	Once again we face a period of significant change; we must remain resilient and best focus our resources to maintain our position as a world-beating navy.
	Our priority is to deliver the core maritime roles of the Versatile Maritime Force: Maritime Force Projection, Theatre Entry, Flexible Global Reach, UK Maritime Security and Networked Command Control Communications Computers Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR).
	The work earlier this year to rebalance defence has resulted in adjustments to force levels for all three Services. For the Royal Navy this has resulted in reductions in the numbers of frigates, destroyers, submarines and mine counter measure vessels over the next two years.
	Whilst reductions in hull numbers are never welcome, throughout the process we have been absolutely clear that delivering the future vision—a capable, flexible Navy focused on the ability to deliver effect onshore—is the priority.
	At the heart of the Versatile Maritime Force is the Future Carrier programme (CVF), which remains the RN's top equipment priority. The work earlier this year recognised the importance of CVF and the planned in-service dates have been maintained.
	The world is changing. We must respond to these changes if we are to maintain our relevance and traditional position as the best navy in the world.
	We need to remember that our "audience" among the British public, and further afield, is changing, with many not having the same innate understanding and acceptance of the whys and hows of our business as would have been the case in the past. We have an excellent story to tell—and maintaining our reputation with this audience is vital."

Video Conferencing

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many video conferencing units are installed in (a) the Department and (b) each agency of the Department; what percentage of offices have these facilities in each case; and what plans there are to increase the number.

Ivor Caplin: As of February 2004, the information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 MOD London buildings 20 
			 Royal Navy 31 
			 Army 86 
			 Royal Air Force 10 
			 Defence Logistics Organisation 47 
			 Defence Communication Services Agency 10 
			 Defence Procurement Agency 5 
			 Pay Personnel Agency 2 
			 Warship Support Agency 2 
			 Total 213 
		
	
	There are a small number of video teleconferencing (VTC) units purchased under local agreements for which information is not available The percentage of offices that have these facilities could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The use of VTC is actively encouraged and the Defence Communication Services Agency is currently revising its catalogue to offer VTC services more widely across the whole of the Department.

TREASURY

Developing Countries (Poverty)

Andrew Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on how an international finance facility would contribute to tackling poverty in developing countries.

Stephen Timms: Building on the commitments made by the donor community at Monterrey in 2002, the International Finance Facility (IFF) would generate the estimated extra $50 billion in development assistance required annually to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
	The IFF would provide a critical mass of stable, predicable long-term funds frontloaded to tackle the causes of poverty, disease and illiteracy, meeting the needs of the world's poor right now.

G8

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the economic objectives of the UK's presidency of the G8.

Stephen Timms: As set out in Box 2.4 of the 2004 Pre-Budget Report, the Government sees its leadership of the G7 and G8 in 2005 as an opportunity to tackle the key challenges that come from the radical changes currently under way in the global economy. These include: international poverty reduction to ensure that the world's poorest can share in rising prosperity; structural economic reform in the developed world to increase flexibility; openness to free and fair trade; and supporting the drive to tackle climate change as a priority for all industrialised nations.

Commission for Africa

John MacDougall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the work of the Commission for Africa.

Stephen Timms: 2005 will be a critical year for assessing progress towards the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals. We know already that Africa is not on track to meet any of these goals by the target date of 2015. The Commission for Africa was established to examine the evidence and identify the action required to accelerate progress. The Commission has consulted widely on its draft conclusions. The final Commission meeting will be held in February 2005, and the report published in March.
	The Chancellor meets regularly with this fellow Commissioners engaged in the economic section of the Commission for Africa's work, most recently in Ottawa in October and Berlin last month. In addition, the Chancellor hosted high-level breakfasts in No11 in July with senior business leaders and NGOs operating in Africa in order to draw upon some of their experience and views.
	The Chancellor is planning to visit Africa early next year to hold discussions on the economy section with fellow Commissioner and African Finance Ministers.

Eurozone

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress towards securing greater economic flexibility within the Eurozone.

Stephen Timms: Economic flexibility is important not just for the Eurozone, but for all EU member states. That is why the Government remains a strong advocate of economic reform at home and in Europe. Though much progress has been made towards the Lisbon targets for 2010, there is still a need for member states to do more, in particular, to tackle the structural rigidities that hamper economic growth and performance.

Gaming (Taxation)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the level of taxation on gaming.

John Healey: Treasury Ministers regularly discuss a wide range of business with colleagues at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. However, as I set out in a written answer on 27 October 2004, Official Report, column 1293W no such discussions have been held on gambling tax rates. Tax policy is a matter for the Chancellor and is considered as part of the Budget process.

Employment Incentives

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on his measures in the pre-Budget report to help people into work.

Stephen Timms: The Government receives a variety of representations on our measures to help people into work. The success of our welfare to work policies is evident in Wednesday's employment figures, which showed that employment is at near record levels, at 74.7 per cent. The new deal—the most successful employment programme in our history—has now helped over 1,169,000 individuals into work.

Government Staffing

Peter Atkinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the change in levels of central Government staffing between 1997 and 2004.

Paul Boateng: Data concerning civil service numbers between 1997 and 2004 has been published in "Civil Service Statistics". Current information can be found on the Cabinet Office's website.

Tax Changes

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many direct taxes have been introduced since 1997; and how many times existing direct taxes have been raised.

Dawn Primarolo: All changes to taxation since 1997 are set out in the relevant Financial Statement and Budget Reports, which are available in the Library of the House.

Child Care (Tax Relief)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost of providing tax relief to employees who receive financial support from their employers to buy childcare services; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 14 December 2004
	I refer the hon. Member to page 6 of the "Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report" and "Financial Statement and Budget Report 2004 1 " [HC 301].
	1 This page can be accessed at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/7A8/DF/bud04_cha_l90.pdf

Correspondence

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letters dated 22 July and 18 November from the hon. Member for Hull, North concerning correspondence from the Vice Chancellor of the University of Hull about the VAT partial exemption method.

Dawn Primarolo: My hon. Friend will receive a reply to his letters within the next week.
	The letter will contain an explanation for the delay in providing a response.

EU Funding

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what EU funding supports the Local Government International Bureau; whether such public funds were used for its advertising in the House Magazine on 15 November; what his policy is on this use of public funds for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.
	The Local Government International Bureau (LGIB)—the European and international arm of the Local Government Association—receives no funding from the European Union for its ordinary activities, including the placing of the advertisement in the House Magazine on 15 November. The overall aim of the LGIB is to promote high quality democratic local government and its interests within Europe and internationally—an aim which the Government supports.

Gross Domestic Produce (Wandsworth)

Tom Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the gross domestic product of the London borough of Wandsworth has been in each of the last three years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 16 December 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about GDP for the London Borough of Wandsworth in each of the last three years (205913).
	The London Borough of Wandsworth is in the Inner London West (NUTS3 area), which is currently the lowest geographic level at which Gross Value Added 1 (GVA) is published. The latest published information is for 2001.
	The estimates in the table below are based on the regional Gross Value Added 1 (GVA) estimates published in December 2003. These are available on the National Statistics website at: htlp://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/nojournalGVA_NUTS3_Methods_and_Background.pdf
	
		
			   Year Gross value added (GVA)(10) for Inner London West (NUTS3 area) at current basic prices 1995 to 2001 (£ million) 
		
		
			 1995 42,560 
			 1996 45,804 
			 1997 50,146 
			 1998 54,903 
			 1999 58,319 
			 2000 61,681 
			 2001 65,426 
		
	
	(10) Information presented here is Gross Value Added (GVA) which is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) less taxes (plus subsidies) on products.

Inland Revenue and Customs

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with regard to the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise, how many claims to tax have been (a) reduced and (b) cancelled in the last tax year; and what the sums involved were.

Dawn Primarolo: Neither the Inland Revenue nor HM Customs & Excise keep this information in this form. It could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Older Pensioners

John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect of the measures contained in the pre-Budget report on older pensioners.

Stephen Timms: The Government recognises that older pensioners have been living on fixed incomes for longer and are therefore more likely to have a lower income than younger pensioners.
	Older pensioners will benefit from the pension credit, which this year guarantees a minimum income of £105 a week, free television licences and a winter fuel payment of £300. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced in this year's Pre Budget Report that the pension credit will be uprated in line with earnings and that we will be paying a further £50 payment to households with someone over age 70 alongside the winter fuel payment in 2005–06 to help with council tax and other living expenses. As a result of all this Government's measures the poorest third of pensioners will be £36 a week better off.

Regeneration Projects

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what funds he is making available for regeneration projects in England.

Paul Boateng: This year, the Government has made available more than £1.5 billion for regeneration through programmes such as Neighbourhood Renewal, Housing Market Renewal and English Partnerships. In addition, a significant proportion of the £1.85 billion allocated to the Regional Development Agencies will be spent on regeneration as one of their core functions. Between 2005–06 and 2007–08, the Government intends on current plans to allocate more than £4.6 billion for regeneration, plus a proportion of the £6.7 billion allocated to RDAs, alongside £730 million through the European Regional Development Fund.

Retirement

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people retired in each year group in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. David Drew, dated 16 December 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about retired people. I am replying in his absence. (204909)
	The available information, shown in the attached table, is based on those people who described themselves as retired in the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and who a year earlier were in employment. The table relates to people interviewed in the LFS during the three months ending in May 2004. The figures are shown for age groups defined by age at the time of LFS interview. Information about exact age at retirement is not available.
	The estimates for the Labour Force Survey are, as with any statistical sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	
		People who retired during the past year by age(11) three months ending in May 2004, United Kingdom—not seasonally adjusted -- Thousand
		
			  Men Women Total 
		
		
			 16 and over 120 127 247 
			 16–49 (12)— 1 1 
			 50 (12)— (12)— 1 
			 51 (12)— (12)— 2 
			 52 (12)— 1 3 
			 53 2 (12)— 3 
			 54 1 2 3 
			 55 3 2 5 
			 56 3 4 7 
			 57 4 4 7 
			 58 2 (12)— 3 
			 59 3 5 8 
			 60 10 33 43 
			 61 6 7 13 
			 62 5 10 16 
			 63 4 10 14 
			 64 6 6 12 
			 65 33 14 47 
			 66 9 5 13 
			 67 6 5 11 
			 68 3 3 5 
			 69 4 2 7 
			 70 2 3 5 
			 70 and over 12 6 18 
		
	
	(11) People who retired during the past year are defined as those who described themselves as retired in the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and were employed one year earlier. Age is defined as age at interview in the LFS.
	(12) Estimates not shown as they are potentially disclosive.
	Note:
	Some of these estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a higher degree of sampling variability. They should therefore be treated with caution.
	Source:
	ONS, Labour Force Survey

Tax Credits

John Thurso: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many child tax credit claimants he has written to with details about the process of finalising their 2003–04 claim and renewing a claim for 2004–05 reassessments, broken down by region; how many have responded, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of families in each region with awards current at 5 April 2004 are shown in "Child and Working Tax Credits Quarterly Statistics. April 2004." All these families were contacted about finalising their 2003–04 award and renewing their claim into 2004–05.
	Some families were required to reply only if a change in their circumstance had occurred, or if their 2003–04 income fell outside a given range. As a result, some awards have been finalised on new information provided and others on the basis of information already provided. No split by region is available of the number providing new information.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credits payments have been made manually for (a) 2003–04 and (b) the current tax year.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 14 December 2004
	About 500,000 such payments were made in 2003–04, and about 280,000 between April and November 2004 inclusive.

Tax Credits

Paul Tyler: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appeals his Department has received in respect of requests to reconsider recovery of tax credit overpayments; and how many have been successful.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East (Dr. Kumar) on 15 December 2004, Official Report, columns 1087–88W.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the nature is of an exceptional technical problem, referred to in a letter from the Inland Revenue to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead concerning a tax credits case; and how many of these technical problems there have been in (a) 2003–04 and (b) the current tax year.

Dawn Primarolo: If my right hon. Friend would provide me with details of his correspondence with the Inland Revenue, I will look into the matter.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Inland Revenue officers mean when saying a tax credits case has gone technical; and how many such technical cases there have been in (a) 2003–04 and (b) the current tax year.

Dawn Primarolo: This is not an expression that the Inland Revenue recognises. If my right hon. Friend would like to provide details of the instance when this was said, they will look into it.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what it means when Inland Revenue officers refer to a fatal error, in a tax credits case; and how many such errors there have been in (a) 2003–04 and (b) the current tax year.

Dawn Primarolo: The term comes from an error message staff sometimes see on the tax credits system. It means they could not see details about the taxpayer concerned. The vast majority are resolved by trying again.
	It is not possible to provide the number of errors there have been in the periods referred to.

Teenage Pregnancies (Ribble Valley)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the teenage pregnancy rate in Ribble Valley and Fulwood was in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Nigel Evans, dated 16 December 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the teenage pregnancy rate in Kibble Valley and Fulwood was in each year since 1997. (205067)
	The number of teenage conceptions that occurred in 2000 in Ribble Valley parliamentary constituency was 33. Figures are not available by parliamentary constituencies for other years. Figures are available for each year to 2002 for local authority and health authority areas.
	Rates cannot be supplied for 2000 as population estimates by parliamentary constituencies are not available for that year.

Telephone Services

Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) Government Departments and agencies and (b) public bodies which use 0870 telephone numbers as contact numbers for members of the public.

Paul Boateng: This information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Telephone Services

Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice has been given to Government Departments on the advisability of using 0870 numbers when making telephone calls.

Paul Boateng: There is no Government policy on the use of 0870 numbers. Each Government organisation is free to make its own arrangements depending on its particular requirements.

Telephone Services

Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to advise (a) Government Departments and agencies and (b) public bodies to use 0845 or alternative direct numbers in preference to 0870 numbers as contact numbers for members of the public.

Paul Boateng: There is no Government policy on the use of either direct numbers, 0845 or 0870 numbers. Each Government Department, agency and public body is free to make its own arrangements depending on its particular requirements.

Vaccine Stocks

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) contacts and (b) protocols are in place between customs authorities in the European Union to track and trace (i) virus and (ii) vaccine stocks and materials as they cross borders.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Customs and Excise have no contact or protocols with other customs authorities in relation to these materials, although structures and relationships are in place that would allow such contacts and protocols to be rapidly established if this was felt necessary. HM Customs and Excise enforce licensing restrictions on the import into Great Britain from countries outside the European Union of animal disease samples and their carriers (such as fleas or blood samples) imposed by the Importation of Animal Pathogens Order 1980. Customs also enforce licensing restrictions on the import from and export to countries outside the European Union where such materials are derived from endangered species protected by virtue of EU Council Regulation 338/97.

Working Tax Credit

Brian Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) new applications and (b) renewals are outstanding for working tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: The child and working tax credits have a joint claim form, therefore it is not possible to distinguish between claims for working tax credit and claims for child tax credit.
	Nearly 140,000 new claims were received during November. As at 31 November 2004, there were around 75,000 claims that were waiting for further information or were being verified.
	Information on the number of renewals waiting for further information or were being verified is not available.

Working Tax Credit

Brian Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up a system to stop payment of working tax credit as soon as a recipient notifies the Inland Revenue that they have become ineligible to receive it.

Dawn Primarolo: The tax credits system is responsive to changes in claimants' circumstances. Payments will be stopped as soon as a claimant notifies the Inland Revenue that they are no longer eligible to receive tax credits.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Anglia Polytechnic University

Simon Burns: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the date of the public inquiry into the compulsory purchase order relating to the development of the Anglia Polytechnic University site in Victoria Road South, Chelmsford will be announced.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister hopes to make an announcement in the near future.

Estates and Management Ltd.

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will investigate (a) the activities of Estates and Management Ltd. and (b) its treatment of leaseholders in England and Wales.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not have the power to carry out investigations of companies that own and/or manage residential leasehold properties. Investigations into companies under company law are the responsibility of the Companies Investigations Branch at the Department of Trade and Industry, who are able to consider applications for, and carry out investigations.
	However, through the wide-ranging leasehold provisions in the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has significantly improved the rights of long leaseholders. These provisions include the right to ask a leasehold valuation tribunal to determine the liability to pay, and the reasonableness of, administration charges.
	On 16 November the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also made the 5th Commencement Order which will bring into force the latest phase of provisions to protect leaseholders and improve their rights. These will include the requirement for landlords to demand ground rent in a prescribed manner before being able to take any action or imposing penalties for late payment, and will prevent landlords from forfeiting leases as a result of trivial debts consisting of ground rent, service charges and administration charges (or a combination of them) where the debt does not exceed £350, unless all or any part of the sum has been outstanding for more than three years. These provisions will come into effect from 28 February 2005.

Government Grants (Wandsworth)

Tom Cox: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much central Government grant has been allocated to the London borough of Wandsworth in each of the last three years.

Nick Raynsford: The amount of central Government grant allocated to the London borough of Wandsworth in each of the last three years is tabled as follows.
	
		Government grants to LB Wandsworth
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2002–03 248,308 
			 2003–04 268,124 
			 2004–05 282,588 
		
	
	The data are outturn figures for 2002–03 and budget data for 2003–04 and 2004–05. The amounts are as reported by the local authority.
	The grants included are special and specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance, revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates.

Houses in Multiple Occupation

Jon Trickett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the estimates of the number and proportion of houses in multiple occupation (HMO) with three or more storeys contained in section 3 of the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions 1999 report on HMOs in the private rented sector.

Keith Hill: The "English House Condition Survey 1996: Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in the private rented sector" report, published in 1999, estimated that around 40 per cent. of private rented sector HMOs (excluding converted flats) had three or more storeys. This suggests that of the 447,000 private rented sector HMOs (excluding converted flats), about 179,000 were of three or more storeys. This figure covers traditional HMOs, shared houses and households with lodgers. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will take these estimates into account in deciding where to draw the threshold for mandatory licensing as provided by the Housing Act 2004.

Invoice Payments

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average length of time was between the date of invoices issued to his Department from a supplier and payment by the Department of the invoice in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what percentage of these invoices were paid within 30 days of the date of issue of the invoice; what percentage of these invoices remained unpaid after 90 days; and if he will make a statement on the Department's policy on the payment of invoices issued to it.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed in May 2002. During the period 1 November 2003 to 31 October 2004 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister paid supplier invoices, on average, within 4.93 days. During this period, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister paid 98.87 per cent. of undisputed invoices within 30 days or the agreed credit terms. The percentage of invoices that remained unpaid after 90 days in this period is 0.1 per cent.
	The policy in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is that all valid invoices not in dispute should be paid within 30 days from receipt. The target in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for 2004–05 is to pay 98 per cent. of valid invoices within 30 days of receipt. This target and progress on achieving it is monitored every month.

Leaseholders (Intimidation)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what further steps he is taking to protect leaseholders from intimidation by freeholders.

Keith Hill: Long leaseholders in England will have improved protection and rights with the implementation of the next phase of provisions in the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.
	These measures are in addition to the provisions that have already been introduced to improve leaseholders' rights, and will:
	require landlords to demand ground rent in a specific manner before being able to take any action or impose penalties for late payment;
	require landlords to first satisfy a leasehold valuation tribunal, court or arbitral tribunal that a disputed breach of a lease has occurred before being able to take any forfeiture action;
	prevent landlords from forfeiting leases as a result of trivial debts consisting of ground rent, service charges and administration charges (or a combination of them) where the debt does not exceed £350, unless all or any part of the sum has been outstanding for more than three years.
	Prevents landlords of leasehold houses from insisting that leaseholders use a particular insurance company nominated or approved by them to insure the house.
	These measures form part of the 5th Commencement Order and will come into effect from 28 February 2005.

Motor Racing

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the planning regulations which permit motor racing events on farms or other land holdings; and what restrictions apply, with particular reference to the ability to control similar events on other holdings in an area.

Keith Hill: Part 4 of the "Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995" (the GPDO) grants a general planning permission for the temporary use of land for up to 28 days in any calendar year, subject to a number of restrictions and conditions. The general permission for motor sports, however, is limited to not more than 14 days in total, in recognition that they may, in some locations, cause problems such as parking, environmental damage, and noise. The use of land for motor sports for greater than 14 days would generally require an application for planning permission.
	Unless a planning condition or other legal obstacle (such as a restrictive covenant) affects the situation, development permitted by the GPDO cannot be prevented except by the local authority using its powers under Article 4 of the GPDO to withdraw permitted development rights.
	However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's guidance to authorities emphasises that these powers should be used only in exceptional circumstances. They are intended for use where there is a real and specific threat to the proper planning or amenities of a limited area. Whether to make a direction is entirely a decision for the local planning authority, though in the case of directions made under Article 4(1), approval by the Secretary of State is necessary for the direction to take effect.

Neighbourhood Renewal

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what consultation should be carried out prior to the declaration of a renewal area;
	(2)  under what circumstances the declaration of a renewal area permits the use of compulsory purchase orders.

Phil Hope: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given on 15 December 2004, Official Report, columns 1119–20W.

Regional Government

Liam Byrne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which decisions by local spending bodies require (a) authorisation by and (b) consultation with Government offices for the regions.

Phil Hope: The Government offices for the regions (GOs) carry out activities on behalf of 10 Government Departments. A list of the occasions in which local spending bodies require authorisation by and consultation with GOs is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Renewal Areas

Louise Ellman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultation is required before declaration of a renewal area.

Phil Hope: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca-Davies) on 15 December 2004, Official Report, columns 1119–20W.

Social Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the expenditure was on Local Authority Social Housing Grant in each Government Office region in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated expenditure is in (i) 2004–05 and (ii) 2005–06.

Keith Hill: Local Authority Social Housing Grant (LASHG) was abolished with effect from the 1 April 2003. LASHG spent in each Government Office region in 2002–03 is tabled as follows.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 London 119.9 
			 South East 186.2 
			 South West 68.3 
			 East 15.2 
			 East Midlands 72.4 
			 West Midlands 19.6 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 6.2 
			 North East 0.9 
			 North West 10.5 
			 Total 499.2 
		
	
	Source:
	Housing Corporation

Social Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will be making transitional local authority social housing grant funding available in (a) 2006–07 and (b) 2007–08.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister set out in the Sustainable Communities Plan the funding stream for transitional arrangements for Local Authority Social Housing Grant (LASHG) to 2005–06. In a statement to this House on 5 March 2003, Official Report, column 82W. We announced an increase in the funding available to debt free local authorities and on 17 June 2003, we extended transitional arrangements for with debt local authorities to include further resources being made in 2004–05 and 2005–06. There are no further plans to extend the transitional arrangements past 2005–06.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether departmental special advisers have written to external (a) bodies and (b) individuals in their official capacity since May 1997.

Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Ruth Kelly) on 14 December 2004, Official Report, column 1004W.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether departmental special advisers have made appearances before parliamentary select committees in their official capacity since May 1997.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. No departmental special advisers have appeared before parliamentary select committees.

Supporting People Budget

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with local authority social services departments about planned reductions in the Supporting People budget.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has lead responsibility for the operation of the Supporting People programme.
	Between December 2002 and March 2003, three months prior to the introduction of Supporting People, the cost of the programme rose significantly. This led to the commission of an Independent Review of the programme to help the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister understand the reasons for the growth and to help determine what was an appropriate sum to pay for the Supporting People programme. The Independent Review concluded in January that '£1.8 billion is too much to pay for the legacy provision'.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister followed the Independent Review with work on value for money to support the 2004 Spending Review. Following extensive discussions with colleagues in other Government Departments, including the Department of Health, we announced in August a £5 billion three-year settlement for the programme—£1.72 billion in 2005–06, followed by around £1.7 billion in each of the following two years.
	On 2 December 2004, Official Report, columns 47–50WS, the same day as the Local Government Finance Settlement, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced the individual authorities' allocations for 2005–06.

Supporting People Budget

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether it was his Department's policy to encourage local authority social services departments to set up independent Supporting People teams.

Keith Hill: Prior to the start of the Supporting People programme in April 2003, Supporting People teams were set up by local authorities, with a remit to drive forward the programme. The Supporting People teams are responsible for the day to day administration of the programme which includes the service review programme and ensuring all stakeholders are kept informed and consulted. The teams also facilitate the development of the Supporting People five-year strategy; identifying local strategic priorities and highlighting gaps in provision. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has allocated administration grants to administering authorities to contribute towards staff and IT costs of the Supporting People teams in delivering the programme.
	Supporting People is a local programme delivered through local partnerships with local government, probation, housing, social services, service providers and users. Local authorities are responsible for deciding which department takes the lead for Supporting People and how work is divided between county and districts. The Supporting People teams should, therefore, forge links with the appropriate commissioning managers (including social services), and social services should be an active partner on the core strategic group and commissioning body.

Supporting People Budget

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people, expressed as a full-time equivalent, are employed by each local authority in Supporting People teams; and what budget was allocated to the teams for (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06.

Keith Hill: A total of 1,176 full-time staff are employed by the 150 administering authorities delivering Supporting People. A breakdown by authority is available in the Library of the House.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has lead responsibility for the operation of the Supporting People programme. Authorities administering the Supporting People programme are responsible for making adequate administration funding available to Supporting People teams. To assist authorities in introducing Supporting People, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has allocated administration grants to contribute towards staff and IT costs of delivering the programme. This grant is un-ring fenced and is separate to the programme funding.
	The total administration grants awarded to authorities are:
	(a) £48 million in 2003–04
	(b) £46 million in 2004–05
	(c) £40 million in 2005–06
	Allocations to individual authorities are available at: www.spkweb.org.uk.

PRIME MINISTER

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  whether his special advisers have been responsible for authorising instances of departmental spending since May 1997;
	(2)  whether his special advisers have given instructions to permanent civil servants without the explicit authorisation of Ministers since May 1997.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband) today.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Charities Bill

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will respond to the report of the Committee on the draft Charities Bill.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government will respond shortly to the report of the Joint Committee on the draft Charities Bill.

Departmental Advertising

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which Muslim newspapers the Department advertises; and what kinds of advertising the Department places in Muslim newspapers.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office places adverts in the publications considered most appropriate for reaching the key target audience for a particular campaign. This is decided on a campaign by campaign basis on the advice from specialist media strategy agencies.
	Over the last year the Home Office has placed recruitment adverts in the Muslim News as part of the "Could You police" campaign.

Social Cohesion

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated public expenditure on the (a) regional social inclusion partnerships and (b) Regional Community Cohesion Network was in England in the latest year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The information is as follows:
	(a) Neither the Home Office, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister nor the Regional Coordination Unit directly funds "Regional Social Inclusion Partnerships'. The Government Offices for the Regions may in some areas, have established partnerships as part of their wider role in tackling disadvantage at local level. The circumstances under which they are established and resourced will differ in each region.
	(b) The Home Office does not directly fund community cohesion networks in England. The Government Offices for the Regions will in many areas, have established community cohesion networks with their partners as part of their wider role in tackling community cohesion at local level. The circumstances under which they are established and resourced will differ in each region.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Caribbean Sugar Producers

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if the Government will take steps to explain the likely social and economic impact of the EC's proposed cuts in price paid to ACP Caribbean sugar producers to the Caribbean community in the United Kingdom.

Hilary Benn: The Government are conscious that substantial reform will give rise to transitional problems for the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, and for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) seeking to develop an export trade to Europe under the Everything But Arms initiative. In order to help inform the debate and ensure the impact on developing countries is taken sufficiently into consideration, DFID commissioned a study last year with LMC International and Oxford Policy Management, "Addressing the Impact of Preference Erosion in Sugar on Developing Countries". It assessed the economic and social impact on the ACP Sugar Protocol countries of the various reform scenarios suggested by the European Commission, and the alternative options for addressing the impact of preference erosion in sugar, for consideration by the ACP and the EU.
	The European Commission has promised to initiate dialogue with the affected ACP suppliers on the basis of an Action Plan, which it will produce within the next month. This will set out possible measures to mitigate the impact of the price changes, including financial assistance and help with diversification where restructuring and improvements in competitiveness in the sugar sector are not sustainable. We attach the highest priority to ensuring that the proposed Action Plan is a success and delivers the support and assistance that ACP countries need.
	DFID has also commissioned the Overseas Development Institute to produce a study on "Forthcoming changes in EU sugar/banana markets: a menu of options for an effective EU transitional assistance package". This should be finalised by early next year. It should help those countries affected by reform determine their priorities for a transitional package, including analysis of alternative uses for sugar.
	We are now following up this work by commissioning a series of country profiles for those Caribbean countries that will be affected by the change in the EU trade regime. This will assess the impact of sugar reform at both the national and the household level, help each country elaborate their own strategy to cope with the reforms which will occur, an identify options for transitional assistance.

Caribbean Sugar Producers

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will undertake a study of the relationship between the capacity of the Jamaican sugar industry to develop its industry in a manner that adds value through the production of bio-ethanol, refining and co-generation, and development.

Hilary Benn: DFID is working with the Government of Jamaica to manage the transition from the export of raw cane sugar, necessitated by the reform of the EU sugar regime. We are doing this in two ways: DFID supported a "Foresighting Seminar" held last week by the Government of Jamaica. Participants included representatives from the private sector and civil society, who looked at the medium to long-term future of the sugar industry including alternative options for land use. We understand that a number of proposals were presented, and these will now be submitted to the Jamaican Government for its consideration. The workshop was informed by a number of existing studies of the technical feasibility of new technologies, including ethanol production. More broadly, DFID is working with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and in partnership with the "German Technical Assistance Agency" (GTZ) to produce country profiles for Caribbean sugar producing countries which will help inform their diversification or restructuring plans. The profiles may include an assessment of the feasibility of bio-ethanol.

China (HIV/AIDS)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the Government of China concerning the access and cooperation granted to (A) international organisations, (B) non-governmental organisations and (C) private companies seeking to identify and treat HIV/AIDS infected people in (1) China and (2) Chinese prisons; how these discussions have progressed since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: During my visit to China in May 2004, I discussed China's response to HIV with the Governor of Yunnan. DFID officials have regular discussions with representatives of the Government of China on this issue. This includes stressing the importance of international co-operation on HIV, and highlighting the important role for civil society and private sector organisations.
	DFID is working to improve voluntary counselling and testing and subsequent care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS in China, particularly in Yunnan and Sichuan. This is an important part of the China-UK HIV and AIDS Prevention and Care Project that began in 1999. DFID has also offered advice and support to the development and implementation of China's HIV programmes supported by the Global Fund. These programmes include identifying and treating people living with HIV and strengthening the role of civil society organisations in China's response to HIV. There have been no specific discussions concerning the identification and treatment of people living with HIV and AIDS in prison.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many hours of staff time were taken up in preparation of Christmas cards in 2004.

Hilary Benn: DFID has produced its own 'Season's Greetings' card this year. UK based teams have been asked to pick up cards from headquarters in London and East Kilbride. Cards have been sent out to offices overseas on request. Individual teams have been responsible for sending out cards to stakeholders and contacts. As these cards have not been sent out centrally the cost of obtaining the information required would be disproportionate.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many Departmental staff have responsibility for preparing Christmas cards.

Hilary Benn: One member of staff was responsible for production of DFID's "Season's Greetings" card. A second member of staff oversaw distribution to DFID staff. UK based teams picked up cards from headquarters in London and East Kilbride. Quantities of cards were sent to overseas offices on request. To date 60 UK based teams and 31 overseas teams have requested quantities of cards. Quantities have ranged from five to 250.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what resources his Department has allocated to assessing the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The DFID humanitarian programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo has increased each year since 1998, as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998 370,000 
			 1999 1,257,000 
			 2000 3,036,000 
			 2001 5,307,000 
			 2002 11,650,000 
			 2003 12,946,000 
		
	
	DFID keeps in close touch with the situation on the ground, through reporting from the UK embassy and the DFID Office in Kinshasa, contact with UN agencies and non-governmental organisations, as well as visits by DFID humanitarian experts to assess the extent of humanitarian needs. DFID is unable to identify the exact cost associated with this. DFID has also contributed to the co-ordination of the relief effort, including humanitarian assessments, by providing funds to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of the number of people hiding in the forests of Pinga and Walikale in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo following the recently reported increase in violence in the region; what assessment he has made of the provisions for humanitarian assistance (a) in and (b) close to the forests of Pinga and Walikale; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: On 4 December, the UN Office for the Co-Ordination of Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA) reported that an NGO had estimated that 46,000 people are displaced in the forests around Pinga and Walikale as a result of recent fighting. DFID has provided £466,832 to UNOCHA for their Rapid Response Fund to help strengthen the capacity of humanitarian organisations for the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance to the most affected populations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; and £2 million to UNICEF for their Rapid Response Capacity for Emergency Situations to provide flexible relief support in the sectors of non-food items, water and sanitation, health, education and nutrition.
	DFID has also committed £490,000 to Christian Relief Network, an NGO, for the rehabilitation of the hospital and supporting enterprises in Pinga, which should help to restore life saving primary and secondary health services for 150,000 people. This rehabilitation also has a peacebuilding effect by giving some sign of a peace dividend; it has also so far created job opportunities for 180 people. 130 of these represent unskilled manual labour, and are mainly recruited from local Mai Mai groups.

Departmental Files

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether it is the policy of the Department to retain for the benefit of future (a) historians and (b) applicants under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the same (i) complete categories of files, (ii) numbers of files and (iii) representative examples of files from categories of files destroyed as had been preserved prior to the passage of that Act.

Hilary Benn: In accordance with the Public Records Act 1958 S.3, the selection of records of enduring historical value for permanent preservation at The National Archives (TNA) will continue to take place in the Department for International Development under the guidance and supervision of TNA staff. The Department will also comply with the Code of Practice on Records Management, issued by the Lord Chancellor under S.46 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which underlines the importance of having clear selection policies and disposal schedules in place.

Education for All

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Government have allocated towards Education for All.

Hilary Benn: Between 1997 and 2002, DFID has committed over £700 million in basic education in developing countries. That money is part of our efforts to help more children enrol and complete quality education.

Education for All

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department is contributing to the Education for All Fast-Track Initiative.

Hilary Benn: DFID has committed £12 million to the Education For All Fast-Track Initiative over the period 2004–07.

Eritrea

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the percentage of malnutrition cases in (a) children and (b) adults in Eritrea; what estimate he has made of the percentages in each year since 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: In July 2004, the Eritrean Ministry of Health's National Surveillance System revealed high malnutrition rates among women and children in Gash Barka, Anseba and Northern Red Sea Zobas, with global malnutrition rates estimated as high as 19.4 per cent., 18.4 per cent. and 13.9 per cent. respectively.
	According to the Growth Monitoring and Promotion report 2004, 50 per cent. of children under five are undernourished. The 2005 UN Consolidated Appeal reports that maternal malnutrition rates are among the highest in the world at 53 per cent. Global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate trends also vary according to the area. Peak rates are still often very high. For example, GAM rates in the Red Sea areas were between 28.3 per cent. in 2001 and 14.3 per cent. in 2003. GAM rates for Anseba were 19.9 per cent. in 2003 and 18.4 per cent. this year. For the period of 1995–2003 UNICEF assesses the percentage of children suffering from moderate or severe wasting (low weight for height), at 13 per cent., and stunting (low weight for age) at 38 per cent. There is no data available on nationwide malnutrition rates before the Demographic Health Survey carried out in June 2002. Since then, these have been conducted approximately every six months.
	DFID is concerned about malnutrition in Eritrea and a large proportion of humanitarian funds support specialised supplementary feeding programmes. A team from DFID will be visiting Eritrea shortly to discuss these issues with the Eritrean Government, the UN and other agencies.

Gym Provision

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many gyms are available to the staff in the Department; and what the cost of providing them was in the last year for which figures are available.

Hilary Benn: DFID currently has one fitness centre, in our main office at 1 Palace Street, London. The cost of this facility during 2003–04, after members' subscriptions, was £8,500. We are intending to add a second facility in our East Kilbride office during the final stage of the refurbishment of this office next year.

Health Spending (Third World)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to increase the amount of money spent per head of population on health in the Third World.

Hilary Benn: The levels of per capita spend on health in many low income countries are pitifully low, often government expenditure may be as little as US$5 per capita annually. DFID works with many countries to highlight the contribution of better health to development, advocates for increased allocations, and supports efforts to strengthen health systems and use available funds more effectively to deal with the major causes of ill health, disability and death. Health needs more resources, both from domestic revenue and through major increases in donor funding. However decisions on budget allocations across sectors are the responsibility of sovereign governments. Allocations will increase as economies grow wealthier. That requires more rapid progress on increasing aid volumes, in dealing with debt and in ensuring fairer trade regime.
	A number of initiatives have highlighted the scale of need. The Commission on Macroeconomics and Health highlighted the interaction between health and poverty and has convinced many Ministers of Finance that health is a vital investment for the future. The report estimated that delivery of a basic health service would require US$ 35 per capita. The UN Millennium Project is quantifying the costs of meeting the Millennium Goals, many of which are directly or indirectly health related.
	African Heads of State, meeting in Abuja in 2000, made a commitment to increase the health budget to 15 per cent. of the government budget—from a level that is typically less than 10 per cent. Progress has been slow to date.
	The Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria was established in 2002 to generate significant additional resources to combat the three major communicable disease that collectively kill more than six million people each year. To date US$ 5.7 billion has been pledged to the fund, approvals to countries total US$ 3 billion through 315 grants in 128 countries and to date almost US$700 million has been disbursed.
	The UK development budget has increased significantly since 1997. Under the terms of the Spending Review 2004, total UK official development assistance (oda) will rise from £4.14 billion in 2004–05 to £6.46 billion by 2007–08, The UK is making progress towards the UN 0.7 per cent. target for official development assistance (oda) as a proportion of gross national income. On current plans this will rise to 0.39 per cent. in 2005–06 and 0.47 per cent. in 2007–08, and this represents a real terms increase in UK oda of 140 per cent. since 1997. The Government wishes to continue to raise UK oda at the rate of growth achieved in 2007–08 in the aid ratio, which on this timetable would rise beyond 0.5 per cent. after 2008 and reach 0.7 per cent. by 2013. The UK has proposed an International Financing Facility (IFF), designed to deliver an additional US$50 billion annually in aid in the period to 2015. The UK, and France, will demonstrate the practicality of the IFF by launching the International Finance Facility for Immunisation in the first half of 2005. This is expected to double support for global immunisation efforts over the next decade.

Iraq

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many Iraqi civilians have (a) full electricity and water services, (b) part electricity and water services and (c) no such services at all; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: According to a survey of Iraqi households carried out between April and May 2004, almost all Iraqi households are connected to an electricity network, with little variance between urban and rural areas. However, only 15 per cent. of households report their electricity supply to be reliable: 85 per cent. of households experienced low voltage supply or a supply of less than 12 hours per day.
	Water services for Iraqi households vary more greatly between urban and rural areas. In urban areas, 66 per cent. of households have reliable, safe drinking water; 33 per cent. have access to safe water but the supply is unreliable; and 1 per cent. of urban households are receiving unsafe drinking water. In rural areas, 43 per cent. of Iraqi households have reliable access to safe drinking water, 22 per cent. have access to safe drinking water but the supply is unreliable, and 34 per cent. have access only to unsafe drinking water.
	DFID has helped to improve electricity and water supplies to southern Iraq, the poorest region of the country, through the Emergency Infrastructure Programme to which we contributed £20 million. DFID is currently funding a £10 million programme to address further weaknesses in essential services in the south. Electricity and water supply rehabilitation projects are being undertaken under the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq, which is managed by the United Nations and the World Bank and to which DFID has contributed £70 million. Electricity and water projects are also being financed from the USA's $18.4 million supplemental appropriation for Iraq reconstruction, and from Iraq's own budget.

Philippines

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the distribution of food aid in Infanta, Philippines on 8 December; what guidelines his Department (a) has established and (b) is establishing for the effective, efficient and safe distribution of food aid; whether these guidelines are regularly distributed to UK non-governmental organisations active abroad; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: On 8 December the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team conducted its own assessment of the relief operation there and DFID supplied one member of this team. They reported that all families in the affected area have received food assistance and that further food assistance would be required. DFID has responded by providing £100,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movements' relief activities, comprising a number of elements including emergency food assistance. DFID will also consider further assistance to affected populations through the United Nations Flash Appeal when this is issued.
	DFID is an associate member of the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International, through which members aim to make humanitarian action accountable to the beneficiaries. This covers all types of humanitarian assistance including food aid. DFID also encourages all its partners to adhere to Good Humanitarian Donorship principles, and ensures that the non-governmental agencies it supports have in place correct procedures to make food assistance effective and properly targeted. For example, ensuring adherence to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response under the Sphere Project. In the particular case of the Philippines, DFID consulted with the UK embassy, UN agencies and non-governmental organisations in country to ensure that DFID assistance was channelled appropriately. DFID will continue to monitor implementation of its assistance to this end.

Philippines

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) food and (b) monetary aid his Department (i) has pledged, (ii) has delivered and (iii) is going to deliver to the Philippines to deal with the effects of super typhoon Nanmadoe; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has responded by providing £100,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movements' relief activities, comprising emergency food, shelter, medical assistance, water and sanitation and other essential supplies to the worst hit areas. DFID will also consider further assistance through the United Nations Flash Appeal when this is issued.
	We have also provided a member of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team that travelled to the Philippines to help in the aftermath of the storms and typhoons.

Projects (Departmental Funding)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the projects (a) funded and (b) managed by his Department in (i) the Middle East, (ii) Central Asia and (iii) the South Caucasus since 2002; and how many staff from (A) the country concerned and (B) outside the country concerned are employed by each.

Hilary Benn: It would entail a disproportionate cost to list every project funded or managed by the Department on a bilateral basis since 2002. Details of all major projects involving DFID funding of £1 million or more for the period since 2002 are provided in the following tables: (i) the Middle East, (ii) Central Asia and (iii) the South Caucasus. The tables also include information on the numbers of DFID staff who have contributed to the development or management of each project. Many of these projects are co-financed with other donors, such as the World Bank; we do not hold information on their staffing complement.
	The Central Asia, South Caucasus and Moldova Regional Assistance Plan and the Country Assistance Plan for the Palestinians are available in the House of Commons Library.
	
		(i) Middle East
		
			 Project Country/Region Date started Total project commitment (£ million) DFID UK staff DFID country staff 
		
		
			 Palestinian Police Support West Bank and Gaza December 2004 2.075 5 2 
			 Emergency Budget Support West Bank and Gaza March 2004 7.250 9 3 
			 Palestinian Auth UNRWA Debt Write off West Bank and Gaza December 2003 5.000 3 1 
			 Palestinian Authority Civil Service Reform West Bank and Gaza October 2003 5.000 5 2 
			 World Bank ESS Project Phase 2 West Bank and Gaza March 2003 2.000 4 2 
			 Emergency Services Support Project West Bank and Gaza March 2002 5.000 4 2 
			 Economic Policy Programme 3 West Bank and Gaza February 2002 1.015 5 2 
			 H-WASP Phase II West Bank and Gaza January 2002 5.000 5 2 
			 Primary Health Care Phase II West Bank and Gaza January 2000 2.355 4 2 
			 Assistance to NAD West Bank and Gaza November 1999 9.200 5 2 
			 ASYCUBA Customs Yemen January 2001 2.000 5 2 
			 Social Economic and Financial Management Yemen June 2000 5.300 5 2 
			 Poverty Reduction Strategy Yemen June 2003 3.000 5 2 
			 Social Fund for Development Yemen June 2003 5.300 5 2 
			 Basic Education Development Yemen August 2004 15.000 5 2 
			 Public Service Reform Jordan July 2003 4.800 4 2 
			 Family Protection Jordan January 2000 32.500 4 2 
			 Capacity Building of the Queen Zein Institute for  Development Jordan July 1997 2.125 4 2 
			 Ministry of Education Capacity Building Jordan August 1998 1.500 4 2 
			 Support for Environmental Assessment and Management  Phase 2 Egypt January 2000 6.000 4 0 
			 Capacity Enhancement for Lifelong Literacy Phase 2 Egypt July 2000 2.500 4 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Project Country/Region Date started Total project commitment (£ million) DFID UK staff DFID country staff 
		
		
			 Recovery Infrastructure Group Iraq/South July 2003 7.7 7 0 
			 Governorate Teams South Iraq/South November 2003 4 8 0 
			 BBC Media Iraq/South June 2004 6.7 5 21 
			 Emergency Infrastructure Project Iraq/South September 2003 20 10 20 
			 Reconstruction Transitional Programme Iraq/South July 2004 3.5 10 0 
			 South Iraq Employment and Services Programme (SIESP) Iraq/South July 2004 16.5 3 1 
			 Capacity Building in Southern Iraq Governorates Iraq/South July 2004 20.5 5 1 
			 Media Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) Iraq/National August 2003 1.1 13 15 
			 Emergency Public Administration Programme Iraq/National July 2004 3 16 4 
			 Support to Justice Sector Iraq/National February 2004 2 1 1 
			 Support for Macroeconomic Reform Iraq/National July 2004 3 8 3 
			 Political Participation Fund Iraq/National October 2004 5 7 2 
			 Civil Society Challenge Fund Iraq/National June 2004 5 5 2 
		
	
	
		(ii) Central Asia
		
			 Project Country/Region Date started Total project commitment (£ million) DFID UK staff DFID country staff 
		
		
			 Nura River Basin Kazakhstan April 2002 1.2 4 1 
			 Primary Health Care Uzbekistan August 1998 1.3 4 1 
			 National Social Investment Fund Tajikistan March 2004 1.5 4 2 
			 Micro Small Enterprise Tajikistan July 2003 1.2 4 2 
			 Government Structural Adjustment Credit Kyrgystan August 2004 4.9 4 4 
			 Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Kyrgystan November 2001 4 4 4 
			 Rural Hygiene and Sanitation Kyrgystan March 2002 3.3 4 4 
			 Tariff Policy Project Kyrgystan January 2002 1.5 4 4 
			 Support to Village Investment Kyrgystan June 2004 1.1 4 4 
			 Central Asia Regional HIV/AIDS Central Asia October 2004 6.4 6 8 
		
	
	
		(iii) South Caucasus
		
			 Project Country/Region Date started Total project commitment (£ million) DFID UK staff DFID country staff 
		
		
			 Primary Health Care Programme Georgia November 2003 5 4 3 
			 Mental Health Programme Georgia October 2000 1.7 4 3 
			 Primary Health Care Georgia September 2000 1.3 4 3 
			 Support to the State Department of Statistics Georgia July 1999 1.1 4 3 
			 Governance and Civil Society Strengthening Georgia July 1999 1 4 3 
			 Armenia Regional Development Programme Armenia June 2003 4.5 4 3 
			 Armenia Public Sector Reform Programme Armenia April 2002 3.5 5 3 
			 Medium Term Expenditure Framework Armenia November 2000 1.3 5 3 
			 Support for Armenia Social Investment Fund II Armenia February 2001 1.2 5 3

Sexual Health (Developing Countries)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is on sexual education in developing countries; if he will list the 10 countries where his Department has experienced the most difficulty in implementing this policy; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UK believes that sexual and reproductive health are fundamental human rights and remains committed to the Programme of Action (POA) agreed at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development and its target of reproductive health for all by 2015. As part of the POA, education about population and health issues, including sexual and reproductive health is recognised as central within curricula for formal and non-formal schooling. These include health issues to promote the well-being of adolescents, education to enhance gender equality and equity as well as educate about responsible sexual behaviour and protection from early and unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS.
	The UK is also committed to meeting the goal of universal access to primary education by 2015, with special efforts being made to increase the retention rate of girls in primary and secondary schools.
	DFID's approach is to support countries themselves to develop policy and strategy on these issues, within the context of their own overall poverty reduction plans. It is not feasible to draw up a list of the 10 countries where implementation of these policies has been most difficult, as each country has it's own cultural, religious and ethical standards.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether departmental special advisers have made appearances before parliamentary select committees in their official capacity since May 1997.

Hilary Benn: No DFID special advisers have appeared in an official capacity before the International Development Committee or any other select committee since May 1997.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the debt relief package proposed to the Government of Sudan by the US Administration; and whether the UK Government will be offering a similar package.

Hilary Benn: I am not aware that the US Administration has made a formal offer on debt relief to the Government of Sudan at this time. In common with other creditor countries including the UK, DFID would expect the US to extend debt relief to Sudan through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative once a Comprehensive Peace Agreement is in place and the situation in Darfur has improved. The UK Government, together with our G7 colleagues, goes beyond the requirements of the HIPC Initiative and writes off 100 per cent. of all bilateral debts for HIPC countries when they qualify. DFID also plans to assist Sudan in the process of normalising its relations with the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) through chairing a Support Group focused on clearing arrears to the IFIs.

Sudan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of the percentage of food aid reaching the target population in Darfur in each month since April; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UN Humanitarian Needs Profile for Darfur reports that the percentage of people in need receiving food aid each month since April is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 April 57 
			 May 70 
			 June 52 
			 July 76 
			 August 57 
			 September 70 
			 October (13)58 
			 November (13)65 
		
	
	(13) Source: WFP
	Fluctuations reflect the rising number of people affected by the conflict, problems of access by agencies to determine the number of vulnerable people, the continuing insecurity, and the increase in the capacity of the World Food Programme to deliver assistance. Insecurity continues to be the main constraint on delivery. For example, the recent attack on Save the Children which killed two of their staff on 12 December, led to their humanitarian operations in South Darfur being suspended. We continue to work urgently with the AU and others in the international community to address the security situation both through protection measures on the ground and pressure on all parties to use the political process in Abuja to resolve the issues underlying the conflict.

Sudan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment has been made of the security requirements of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and aid agencies operating in Darfur; how these requirements are being met; what proposals his Department has (a) drawn up and (b) discussed with (i) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (ii) the Ministry of Defence to improve the security coverage extended to NGOs and aid agencies operating in Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Humanitarian agencies in Darfur are operating in a very difficult and insecure environment. The tragic deaths of Save the Children workers in October and December, as well as the recent upsurge in fighting are stark reminders of the challenges faced.
	The security and humanitarian protocols signed in Abuja reinforce the need for both side to allow humanitarian operations to go unhindered and the UK is pushing all sides to implement these. The joint FCO/DFID Sudan Unit holds regular update meetings with other government departments including the MoD.
	DFID's funding to UN agencies and NGOs includes support for security and communications to help agencies operate safely. The Department has recently committed a further £820,000 to the UN which will fully fund the operation of the UN Security Co-ordinator in Darfur up to September 2005.

Sudan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment has been made of the impact on the humanitarian situation in Darfur of the African Union's mission to Darfur.

Hilary Benn: The greatest need in Darfur is for an improvement in the security situation. The African Union (AU) mission has a key role to play in this. They are in the process of expanding from less than 500 to more than 3,000 troops. The current mission (of approximately 800) is already having an impact on the ground. They have directly intervened in some areas to defuse tensions and have secured the release of some hostages. DFID is working with other donors to ensure the AU has the support it needs. DFID has committed over £14 million to the mission (from which we have purchased and flown in 143 vehicles) and the Department has provided military planning support to the AU in Addis.
	The AU is specifically mandated to "contribute to a secure environment for the delivery of humanitarian relief."The AU has offered to provide military escort to relief convoys. The World Food Programme (WFP) has negotiated arrangements under this offer, but has yet to utilise them. However, some NGOs consider that they would be more at risk of being targeted if they travelled under armed escort.

CABINET OFFICE

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  whether Cabinet Office departmental special advisers have been responsible for authorising instances of departmental spending since May 1997;
	(2)  whether Cabinet Office special advisers have given instructions to permanent civil servants without the explicit authorisation of Ministers since May 1997.

David Miliband: The terms and conditions under which special advisers are appointed are set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers and the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. Under the terms of the Civil Service Order in Council, up to three special adviser posts in the Prime Minister's office can have executive powers which would allow them to authorise expenditure and give instructions to civil servants. One special adviser currently has such powers.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts Funding

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the value at 1997 prices was of Government support in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04 to (i) the arts and (ii) opera.

Estelle Morris: Exchequer funding for the arts is channelled through Arts Council England (ACE). ACE's total arts investment and total opera investment for the years requested is as follows:
	
		£
		
			  Total arts council investment Total arts council investment in opera 
		
		
			 1996–97 Total investment 185,133,000 30,233,082 
			 2003–04 Total investment 310,455,000 41,684,401 
			 2003–04 at 1996–97 prices 261,238,569 35,076,173

Heritage Lottery Fund

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the likely effects of the National Lottery Bill on the income of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland.

Estelle Morris: The provision in the National Lottery Bill which alters the basis on which investment earnings on the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) balance are shared between distributing bodies may have some effect on the Heritage Lottery Fund's (HLF's) income. Whether and to what extent this happens depends on what proportion of the overall NLDF balance is held on the HLF's behalf when this provision comes into effect. We cannot yet know what this proportion will be. The HLF will, however, continue to receive 16.66 per cent. of all the income generated for good causes after the provision takes effect.
	The Heritage Lottery Fund is a UK-wide distributor and there is no discrete income stream for Scotland. The amount that is awarded by HLF to projects in Scotland is a matter for the HLF itself.

Heritage Lottery Fund

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what provisions she has put in place to guarantee funding to Heritage Lottery Fund projects whose funding has already been agreed but which has not been drawn down following a change in funding arrangements.

Estelle Morris: The management of grants made by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to individual projects is a matter for HLF itself, not for the Government. However, the provisions in the National Lottery Bill to do with National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) balances do not represent a threat to existing HLF commitments. HLF's forward commitments currently exceed its NLDF balance by around £175 million. Income from the Lottery should, based on the Department's latest projections and taking into account the proposals in the Bill, comfortably exceed £200 million in each of the next four years. We will not exercise any new powers in a way which puts at risk any existing grant.

Olympic Medals

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how she has assessed the effectiveness of the investment made by the Government towards achieving Olympic medal success for the UK.

Richard Caborn: The investment to help our top athletes achieve Olympic medal success is primarily provided through the lottery funded World Class Performance Programme administered by UK Sport.
	UK Sport has conducted a series of reviews following the Sydney and Athens Olympics/Paralympics on a sport by sport basis, in partnership with the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association. The purpose of the reviews is to confirm priorities, provide lessons learned in the build up to, and at the Games so that appropriate revisions could be made to the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) for the new Olympic cycle and to inform decisions on the funding to be provided to each of the sports over the next four years.
	Details of the post-Sydney reviews were presented to and agreed by Ministers at the Sports Cabinet in February 2001, while the level of investment to be provided to assist our top athletes to achieve Olympic medal success, was agreed as part of UK Sport's Business Plan 2005–09, by the Sports Cabinet in April this year.
	UK Sport also undertakes annual reviews of national governing bodies performance against targets and of the future funding need. In addition, UK Sport is required to report, annually to DCMS, as part of their Funding Agreement on its performance in meeting WCPP targets.
	Finally, a number of external reviews have been conducted into the support provided to our elite athletes including the Elite Sports Funding Review published in 2002 and a report by the National Audit Office into support for elite athletes is due to be published early next year.

Restoration Costs

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the costs of works required to (a) improve museums and galleries, (b) repair Grade I and Grade II buildings at risk and (c) restore historic parks.

Richard Caborn: Detailed information on the condition of England's historic environment is contained in Heritage Counts, published by English Heritage. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	On the specific points raised by the hon. Member:
	(a) DCMS—sponsored museums and galleries and the British Library estimate that improvements would cost approximately £90 million in each of 2006–07 and 2007–08. The Spending Review allocations announced on 13 December will contribute some £60 million towards meeting this cost over these two years. No figures are available for museums and galleries not sponsored by DCMS.
	(b) The cost to bring all the buildings on English Heritage's Building At Risk register into repair and, where applicable, use is approximately £400 million. Only Grade I and II* buildings are included on the register. No estimate is available for Grade II buildings.
	(c) No estimate is available for the cost of restoring historic parks. However, it is estimated that on all parks there was a cumulative underspend of £1.3 billion between 1980 and 2000. Additionally, the Royal Parks Agency estimate they have a total maintenance backlog of £110 million, including spending on buildings, roads Department for Culture, Media and Sport Parliamentary Branch 2–4 Cockspur Street London SW1Y 5DH www.culture.gov.uk and other facilities.

Sports Matches (Radio Rights)

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State, for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will investigate the BBC's acquisition of national radio rights to Premier League and FA Cup football matches to be broadcast on Five Live Sports Extra; whether this is in breach of the conditions laid down by the Secretary of State for the operation of the station; and whether the BBC requested that these rights be excluded from the packages of the rights that they acquired.

Estelle Morris: Tim Gardam's independent review of the BBC's digital radio services, commissioned by the Secretary of State and published in October 2004 recommends a review of the BBC's strategy for, and approach to, radio sports rights negotiations. My right hon. Friend is considering, in the context of Charter Review, how best to take forward this recommendation.

TRANSPORT

A1 (Dishforth to Barton)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons he has postponed the improvements scheduled to the A1 Dishforth to Barton section; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: In light of the recent SR2004 spending settlement a thorough review of the Targeted Programme of Improvement (TPI) programme has been carried out. Subject to the completion of statutory procedures and availability of funding the Al Dishforth to Barton Improvement is scheduled to reach the start of construction in 2008.

A14 Improvements

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when the public consultation into the major improvements to the A14 Huntingdon to Cambridge road will take place;
	(2)  whether he expects that the delay to the public consultation on the improvements to the A14 Huntingdon to Cambridge road will delay the completion of the building of the new road;
	(3)  whether the Highways Agency made the decision to delay the consultation into the major improvements to the A14 Huntingdon to Cambridge road.

David Jamieson: holding answer 15 December 2004
	Public consultation on proposals for the A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton Improvement is now expected to start in Spring 2005.
	The delay in public consultation will put further pressure on the target date of 2008–09 for the start of the works envisaged when the scheme entered the Targeted Programme of Improvements last year. I have asked the Highways Agency to do what they can to reduce the time from announcement of the preferred route after consultation to the award of a Contract. I am hopeful that any slippage to the completion date will be slight, but is delivery will depend on the completion of the necessary statutory procedures and the availability of funds.
	The public consultation has been put back to allow more time for the Highways Agency to consider an alternative proposal to the scheme recommended by the Cambridge to Huntingdon Multi Modal Study (CHUMMS). The alternative has been put forward as a result of consultations with the various stakeholders in preparation for the public consultation.

Dorchester Road Relief Road

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what route he has approved for the Dorchester Road Relief Road in Weymouth;
	(2)  what funding has been promised in each of the next 10 years for building the Dorchester Road Relief Road in Weymouth;
	(3)  what discussions the Department had with Dorset county council about re-routing the Dorchester Road Relief Road in Weymouth;
	(4)  what factors led the Department to withdraw their support for building the Dorchester Road Relief Road in Weymouth on the Brown Route;
	(5)  if he will list each conditional approval for the building of the Dorchester Road Relief Road in Weymouth, identifying the route proposed, the date of approval and for the earlier schemes the date of and reasons for not proceeding.

David Jamieson: Dorset county council's bid for funding the Weymouth Relief Road using the "brown" route was provisionally approved in December 2000 as part of the 2000 Local Transport Settlement. Subsequently in spring 2003, Dorset county council decided that the route should be changed to the "orange" route.
	A bid for funding this revised scheme was submitted in July 2003. The funding bid was Provisionally Approved in the December 2003 Local Transport Capital Settlement, subject to the completion of the relevant statutory processes and final approval by Ministers. As part of this provisional approval, we agreed to provide up to £54.567 million.
	Funding profiles have yet to be determined and will be finalised once .the scheme has completed its statutory procedures and returned for full approval. Officials from my Department and the Government Office for the south west have held a number of discussions with the promoters of this scheme, Dorset county council, over a number of years.
	Conditional approvals for this scheme have been as follows:
	December 2000—Dorset's funding bid for "brown" route scheme provisionally approved by Department for Transport.
	Spring 2003—Change from the "brown" route to the "orange" route approved by Dorset county council.
	December 2003—Dorset's funding bid for "orange" route scheme provisionally approved by Department for Transport.

Kent Integrated Rail Franchise

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will authorise the final invitation to tender for the Kent Integrated Rail Franchise; when he will publish the relevant and related information for stakeholders; when he expects the (a) tender process to be completed and (b) franchise to be awarded; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 14 December 2004
	The final Invitation to Tender is being finalised and the SRA intends to issue this to bidders early in the new year. A stakeholder briefing setting out the future service pattern for Kent services will be published at the same time. Bids will be submitted summer 2005. It is intended that a new operator will be in place late 2005.

North-east Rail Services

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of the potential closure of north-east rail services between (a) Saltburn and Bishop Auckland and (b) Middlesbrough and Whitby.

Tony McNulty: None. There are no plans to close these services. The routes between Darlington and Bishops Auckland and between Guisborough Junction and Whitby are proposed for designation as Community Rail lines as part of the Strategic Rail Authority's (SRA) Community Rail Development Strategy.

Paddington Rail Crash

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Department intends to meet the recommendations contained in the Paddington Declaration resulting from the public inquiries that took place following the crash.

Tony McNulty: The Health and Safety Commission (HSC), as the independent rail safety regulator, have published reports showing that 268 of the 295 public inquiry recommendations made following the Southall and Ladbroke Grove crashes have been completed.
	The HSC say that work is already well under way on the 27 outstanding recommendations and expects most of these to be completed by the time it publishes its next progress report in 2005.

Pharmaceuticals (Driving)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department takes to advise people using (a) prescription and (b) over-the-counter pharmaceuticals of their possible effects on driving; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Doctors and pharmacists should provide information on the effects on driving when dispensing prescriptions or other medicines.
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) provides advice to medical professionals through its "At a Glance Guide to the Current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive", which is available on the Agency's website (www.dvla.gov.uk).
	The Department is currently researching the attitudes of UK health professionals about providing 'fitness-to-drive' advice to the public. This includes an examination of advice given in relation to medication.

Railway Network (Suicides)

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many suicides took place on the railway network in the United Kingdom in the last 12-month period for which figures are available; and what the equivalent figure was 10 years ago.

Tony McNulty: The number of reported suicides on the railways in Great Britain for 2003–04 was 75, although this number is provisional and is subject to change based on Coroners' findings. The equivalent figure for 1993–94 was 141. This data is taken from the Health and Safety Executive's annual rail safety reports, copies of which are available in the House Library. The data covers all railways, including Network Rail, London Underground and heritage railways.

Regional Assemblies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new transport powers he approved for elected regional assemblies in addition to the powers set out in the Draft Regional Assemblies Bill, between the publication of the Draft Bill and the close of poll in the North East referendum.

Tony McNulty: The transport powers proposed for elected regional assemblies were clearly set out in the draft Bill and accompanying Policy Statement. They would have given an elected assembly a significantly greater role and say in transport issues than the existing regional assemblies.

Registered Motor Vehicles

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many registered motor vehicles there were on British roads in each decade since 1974; and what estimates he has made for the next three decades.

David Jamieson: The figures required, as at the end of each decade, are as follows:
	
		
			  Number (million) 
		
		
			 1974–83 20.21 
			 1984–93 24.83 
			 1994–2003 31.21 
		
	
	This Department does not forecast registered vehicles. Its forecast of the growth of traffic during 2000–2025 is published on page 44 of the Department's White Paper 'The Future of Transport: a Network for 2030', a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

School Transport

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of trips to school by five to eight year olds were by bus in the latest year for which figures are available; and what proportion of these were (a) under two miles and (b) two miles and over, broken down by region;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of trips to school by nine to 16-year-olds were by bus in the latest year for which figures are available; and what proportion of these were (a) under three miles and (b) three miles and over, broken down by region.

Charlotte Atkins: The National Travel Survey provides the data requested. In 2002–03, five to eight year olds made on average 18 trips to school by bus per year. This was 6 per cent. of all school trips. Of the school trips by bus, 31 per cent. were under two miles and 69 per cent. were two miles or above. Figures for regions cannot be provided because of the small number of primary school children that travel to school by bus.
	The following table shows data for nine to 16-year-olds. The sample sizes are too small to provide reliable estimates for the North East and Wales.
	Numbers of trips are averaged over all children. Bus includes local and private school buses. Figures exclude trips over 50 miles.
	
		Trips to and from school 2002–03 -- Percentage trips
		
			  9–16 years 
			 Percentage of those trips by bus 
			 Regional Bus trips per child per year All trips per child per year Percentage of trips by bus Under three miles Three miles and over 
		
		
			 North East — — — — — 
			 North West 77 323 24 43 57 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 65 328 20 27 73 
			 East Midlands 89 303 29 36 64 
			 West Midlands 73 314 23 29 71 
			 East 73 312 23 25 75 
			 London 85 311 27 40 60 
			 South East 79 334 24 18 82 
			 South West 79 326 24 22 78 
			 England 77 319 24 31 69 
			 Wales — — — — — 
			 Scotland 125 375 33 37 63 
			 Great Britain 85 325 26 31 69 
		
	
	Source:
	National Travel Survey, DfT

Sick Leave

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many days sick leave were taken by civil servants in the Department in each year since 1997; and what the sickness absence rate was in each year.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport was established following machinery of Government changes in May 2002.
	The annual report 'Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service' published by the Cabinet Office in November 2004 contains reported sickness absence data for the calendar year 2003 for the Department and its Agencies. Reports for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 are available on the Cabinet Office website.
	The Department is committed to managing sick absence effectively and to putting in place the recommendations of the recently published 'Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector.

Stonehenge Inquiry

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when the last day of the A303 Stonehenge Inquiry was;
	(2)  when the Inspector's target date was for submission of the A303 Stonehenge Inquiry report to the Secretary of State;
	(3)  when the Inspector submitted his report on the A303 Stonehenge Inquiry;
	(4)  when he will make a decision on the Inspector's report on the A303 Stonehenge Inquiry;
	(5)  what the latest advice was that was given by the Highways Agency to the contractors involved in the scheme that was the subject of the A303 Stonehenge Inquiry;
	(6)  whether compensation will be paid to contractors for the delayed start to the scheme being determined by the A303 Stonehenge Inquiry.

David Jamieson: The local inquiry closed on 11 May 2004.
	There is no target date set for receipt of the Inspector's report. Under a Service Level Agreement the Planning Inspectorate gives the Inspector three working days for each sitting day of the inquiry to write his report plus an additional 20 days for administration purposes. But it is accepted that this process can take longer on exceptional schemes because of the complexity of the submissions and representations made to him at the local inquiry.
	The Inspector's report has not yet been received.
	A decision will be announced by the First Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Transport jointly as soon as possible after receipt of the inquiry Inspector's report.
	The Highways Agency has advised the contractors working on the scheme that the Secretaries of State are currently awaiting the Inspector's report.
	The contractors are paid for the work they do in preparing the scheme and we do not anticipate making any compensation payments.

Traffic Signals (A1)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at whose request, and at what cost, the traffic signals at the Stamfordham Road/A1 Western Bypass were installed; on how many occasions the lights have been in use; and whether it is planned that the lights should be used again.

David Jamieson: The traffic signals at the Stamfordham Road/Al Newcastle Western Bypass Junction were funded by the developers of Newcastle Great Park. The works are part of a package of measures imposed by the Highways Agency as conditions on the granting of planning permission for the development. Newcastle city council, as highway authority for Stamfordham Road and planning authority, is responsible for over-seeing the implementation of the proposals and is best placed to provide information on the current operation of the signals and their future use.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to persuade those countries who have not yet signed or ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to do so.

Denis MacShane: The United Kingdom strongly supports universalisation of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which is an important part of the international regime to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. At the Third Article XIV Conference on Facilitating entry into force of the Treaty (September 2003), my right hon. Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean urged all states that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Treaty. Baroness Symons also represented my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary at a Meeting of Foreign Ministers in New York in September and signed a statement on his behalf reaffirming our support for the Treaty and once again calling for its early entry into force.
	In addition, we have carried out demarches both as part of the EU and bilaterally and will continue to do so. We have used our embassies and high commissions to assist the Provisional Technical Secretariat and the Executive Secretary of the CTBT in regional outreach work. Most recently, the United Kingdom has assisted the Special Representative of the Ratifiers of the Treaty, ambassador Ramaker, with his programme of visits.

Defence Attache

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK embassies in EU capitals had a permanent defence attaché on 1 June (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) 2004; and what plans he has to alter the levels of representation.

Denis MacShane: In 1997 and 2001, British embassies in 13 EU capitals (listed as follows) had a permanent defence attaché with one non-resident accreditation (NRA): Rome, Bonn, Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, Vienna, Athens, Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Dublin, The Hague, Brussels (Luxembourg was a Non-resident accreditation (NRA) from Brussels).
	As of 1 June 2004, following the expansion of the European Union, there are 22 permanent defence attachés with two non-resident accreditations: Brussels, Berlin, Paris, Warsaw, Ljubljana, Prague, Madrid, Lisbon, Vienna, Vilnius, Riga, Athens, Budapest, Valletta, Nicosia, Rome, Dublin, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm, The Hague, Bratislava, Luxembourg (NRA), Tallinn (NRA). Brussels was transferred to NRA status on 24 June 2004.
	We keep the defence attaché representation under constant review. There are no immediate plans to alter the level of representation in EU capitals.

Estonian Minister of Defence (Robbery)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) NATO and (b) EU documents were among those stolen from the home of the Estonian Minister of Defence; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We understand that the Estonian authorities have completed an investigation and have confirmed that there were no EU or NATO documents in the briefcase stolen from the house of the former Estonian Defence Minister.

EU Funding

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much EU funding was allocated to the European Information Association in the last period for which figures are available.

Denis MacShane: Information on EU funding can be obtained from EU offices: European Commission Representation in the UK, 8 Storey's Gate, London, SW1P 3AT, Telephone: 020 79731992. The European Information Association (ElA) is a non-profit making organisation with charitable status which has no links to the British Government.

European Commission

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  on how many occasions the European Commission has used articles (a) 94, (b) 95 and (c) 308 TEC as the legal basis for proposals over each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list those items of legislation brought in under TEC articles (a) 94, (b) 95 and (c) 308 since May 1997; in how many of these cases the UK Government raised the question of appropriate treaty basis; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	In assessing the legal basis of proposals brought forward by the Commission, the Government follows tests laid down by the Court of Justice in case law dating back to the 1980s and considers the proposal as a whole, and in particular its aim and content.

European Constitution

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the use of articles in the draft EU Constitution as a treaty base for (a) legislation and (b) legal proceedings by (i) the Commission, (ii) the European Parliament and (iii) the European Court of Justice; if he will list those occasions when articles of the draft Constitution have been cited as legal basis for legislation or legal proceedings; and what his policy is towards the citation of such articles.

Denis MacShane: None. The EU Constitutional Treaty has not yet come into force.

European Neighbourhood Policy

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European Union counterparts on the negotiation of a new agreement with Israel under the European Neighbourhood Policy; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: EU Foreign Ministers last held discussions on the negotiation of the first wave European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plans, including the Israel Action Plan, at the 11 October General Affairs and External Relations Council. I represented my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on that occasion. The Israel Action Plan was approved at the 13 December General Affairs and External Relations Council. We believe that engaging with Israel on the basis of shared, common values will be beneficial to the EU-Israel relationship.

European Union

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list activities in which his Department has been involved to promote the benefits of the Government's policy towards the European Union in the last 12 months; what the costs were; what partner organisations were involved; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Government works with a wide range of partners to develop and communicate its policy towards the European Union, including OGDs, the CBI, Chambers of Commerce, trades unions and more, including other EU member states and EU institutions.
	Between November 2003 and the end of October 2004 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) was involved in over 70 events to raise awareness of the effects for the UK of membership of the European Union. Some of these events were arranged by or had input from the FCO, and FCO publications were distributed at others. A full list is available on the FCO website:
	www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1051607819365&a=Page and
	www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029392745.
	These activities, as well as a range of publications and media relations activity, were funded from an annual EU Communications budget of £200,000.
	Speakers at these events have included Ministers from several Government Departments and the devolved Administrations, while other participants have ranged from local councillors to war veterans and professional sportsmen.

European Union

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which EU budget lines may be used for information campaigns; how much was allocated under each line for the present year; which projects under each line have operated in the United Kingdom within the past 24 months; and which projects he intends to support within the United Kingdom as part of (a) the EU Constitution debate and (b) campaigns to explain the benefits of EU membership.

Denis MacShane: There are six EU budget lines which may be used for information campaigns.
	The provision made for payments under each line for the present year (2004) was:
	
		
			  Million euros 
		
		
			 1. Space of liberty, security and justice 2 
			 2. Economic and monetary union including the euro 3.5 
			 3. Enlargement 19 
			 4. Debate on the Future of the European Union 10 
			 5. Role of the European Union in the world 2.5 
			 6. Aid Co-operation (AIDCO) 1.5 
		
	
	In the last 24 months the only two of these programmes that have operated in the UK are Enlargement and Debate on the Future of the European Union. Plans have not yet been made on projects within the UK to support the EU Constitution debate or to explain the benefits of EU membership.

Freedom of Information Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department were employed to deal with Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004; and how many staff are budgeted to deal with Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006.

Jack Straw: Staffing of the central team dealing with both Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Data Protection Act 1998 issues in each of the years requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001 3 
			 2002 6 
			 2003 7 
			 2004 10 
		
	
	No change to the level of central staffing is planned for 2005 and 2006, but requirements will be kept under review.

Indian Nagaland Insurgents

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and (a) India and (b) Bhutan regarding Indian Nagaland insurgents.

Douglas Alexander: The UK Government have not had discussions about the Nagaland insurgents with the Government of India or the Government of Bhutan.
	However the British High Commission in India continues to monitor developments in Nagaland. A ceasefire remains in place and this has led to a significant improvement in the security situation. A tragic bombing incident took place in Dimapur in early October, which we have strongly condemned. Although the culprits are yet to be identified, local observers believe that the incident was perpetrated by outsiders and does not signal a general return to violence. Discussions are proceeding between the Government of India and one of the major militant factions on a political resolution of the conflict. The British High Commissioner visited Nagaland from 13–15 November to update himself on developments.

Internal Disciplinary Hearings

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions European Union personnel have been subject to internal disciplinary hearings in each year since 1995; what complaint was made in each case; which cases involved incidents of whistleblowing; what the result of the hearing was in each case; if he will list the individuals involved; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: European Union personnel are employed by a number of bodies, each of which has its own disciplinary procedures. The information requested is not held centrally, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Iran

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Iranian Government regarding (a) Hezbollah and (b) Hamas.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 14 December 2004
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Greenock and Inverclyde (David Cairns) on 14 December 2004, Official Report, column 1057W.

Israel

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when (a) the EU-Israel Association Council and (b) the EU-Israel Association Committee last met; what conclusions were arrived at; and when they are next scheduled to meet.

Denis MacShane: The EU-Israel Association Council last met on 13 December whilst the EU-Israel Association Committee met on 9 July 2003.
	The main conclusion from the last Association Council was the agreement of technical arrangements on the labelling of goods from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories. Under the arrangements, Israeli goods exported to the EU will be labelled with the name of the city, village or industrial zone of production, allowing EU customs to distinguish between products obtained within and beyond the Green line—and to refuse preferential treatment if the products are obtained beyond the Green line. The Association Council also concluded the need for both the Israelis and the Palestinians to continue to engage constructively in a political process and to demonstrate the necessary leadership to revive the Middle East Peace Process.
	At the 2003 EU-Israel Association Committee, the EU and Israel had an extensive dialogue on political issues of common interest, including a review of developments in the Peace Process, the fight against terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction, ratification of non-proliferation Treaties as well as regional issues.
	No dates have been set for the next EU-Israel Association Council and Committee, but we expect that they will take place during the course of 2005.

Israel (Security Wall)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on the security wall.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 15 December 2004
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon) on 14 December 2004, Official Report, column 1520.

Israel (Settlements)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion his Department has had with the Israeli Government on the future of Israeli settlements.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 15 December 2004
	We have discussed with Israel the issue of the future of the Israeli settlement infrastructure to be evacuated in the disengagement plan. We have stressed the importance of leaving intact as much of the useable infrastructure as possible.
	We welcome the Israeli disengagement plan to withdraw all settlements from Gaza and four from the West Bank. We hope that this withdrawal will be as full as possible, and a first step towards meeting their Roadmap commitments rather than an end in itself.
	Settlements are illegal under international law and freezing settlement expansion as well as dismantling outposts erected since 2001 forms part of Israel's commitments under Phase One of the Roadmap. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made this clear during his visit to Israel on 24 November.

Ministerial Meetings

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list his official engagements over the last six months; who was present at each meeting; what the (a) date and (b) location was of each meeting; what issues were discussed; and what plans he has to establish a public register of such information.

Jack Straw: The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	I have no plans to establish a public register.

Oil and Gas Supplies

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the situation in Ukraine on (a) oil and (b) gas supplies to (i) the UK and (ii) the EU; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to protect the supply of (a) oil and (b) gas to the UK via transit pipelines passing through Ukraine;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with (a) the Ukrainian Government and (b) the Russian Government about the protection of oil and gas transit routes that pass through Ukraine from interruption to flow during the current political situation in Ukraine.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 13 December 2004
	While we recognise the importance of Ukraine for the transit of oil and gas, we have no evidence that the current situation in Ukraine is having an impact on oil and gas supplies to the UK and to the EU. It is not possible in any event to determine what percentage of UK physical oil and gas supplies has transited Ukraine, but it is believed to be negligible. It is the responsibility of the authorities in producing and transit countries to ensure that energy supplies, which are contracted for by private companies, can be delivered without impediment. We keep the situation in Ukraine under careful review. Were there to be cause for concern over energy supplies transiting Ukraine we would, with our EU partners, raise the matter urgently with the authorities there, and, if applicable, with the Russian Government.

Pakistan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the President of Pakistan on that country's laws of blasphemy.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did not discuss Pakistan's Blasphemy Laws with President Musharraf during his recent visit to the UK.
	The Pakistani authorities however are aware of the serious view that the British Government takes of all incidents of persecution and other forms of religious intolerance and discrimination in Pakistan.
	Together with our EU partners we have raised our concerns on these issues with the Pakistani authorities on a number of occasions, most recently in May this year.

Somalia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of recent reports of violent clashes in the Mudug region and in Hobyo town in Somalia; what his most recent estimate of the number of people affected by the violence is; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We see regular reports of fighting in the Mudug and other regions of Somalia and of heavy casualties. We have no representation in Somalia and are not able to make an independent assessment of these reports. But we are urging all factions to support the peace process. We are working closely with the international community to bring about the creation of a Transitional Federal Government for Somalia, acceptable to all factions, which can establish itself in Mogadishu and begin to restore peace and security throughout Somalia.

Somalia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of (a) the commercial operations of the Hawiye clan in Somalia since 1997 and (b) the Hawiye clan's contribution to and role in the situation in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We have no representation in Somalia and are not able to make an independent assessment of the activities of the Hawiye clan. But we are urging all factions to support the peace process.

Somalia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of (a) political, (b) social and (c) economic situation in Somaliland; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: Somaliland has escaped much of the conflict in the rest of Somalia recently. 'President' Rayale was elected democratically in May 2003. Internal reconciliation has made progress. Civil society is beginning to find a voice and the press is relatively free. Economic conditions remain extremely difficult as Somaliland's livestock exports to Arabian countries are prohibited following an outbreak of Rift Valley fever. We have urged the Somaliland authorities to talk to the Transitional Federal Government in the south, when it becomes established, and to agree a mutually acceptable future relationship. I visited Somaliland between 23–25 October this year.

West Papua

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in the province of West Papua, Indonesia.

Douglas Alexander: We have raised the question of human rights in Papua with the Indonesian Government, most recently during the visit by Dr. Michael Williams, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's Special Advisor, to Indonesia in December 2004. We believe the new Government is actively seeking to resolve the conflict. We are aware of reports of human rights abuses in Papua. We will continue to monitor the situation.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Paramilitaries

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 13 December 2004, Official Report, column 925–26W, on offences, how many of the 48 cases referred to involved members of the Provisional IRA; and of the eight cases resulting in freezing and recovery of assets, how many were linked to the (a) Provisional IRA, (b) INLA, (c) UDA and (d) UVF.

Ian Pearson: The Assets recovery Agency does not hold information on individual affiliation. Of the 48 cases which have been referred to it since February 2003, the agency perceives that 13 cases can be identified as being from the Loyalist community and 12 cases can be perceived as being from the Republican community.
	It is not appropriate for the Government to comment on the affiliation of individuals whose assets have been frozen and are under active investigation by the agency.

Retired Prison Officers

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing authorisation cards for retired prison officers that indicate their former occupation, similar to those held by retired police officers.

Ian Pearson: The introduction of authorisation cards for former prison officers has not been raised as an issue with the Northern Ireland Prison Service by former staff or other agencies who may have an interest. Consequently no assessment of the merits of such a scheme has been made to date.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether departmental special advisers have made speeches in their official capacity since May 1997.

Paul Murphy: Any speeches made by special advisers in an official capacity are conducted in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Claims Direct

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish correspondence sent by Mr. Peter Ross to her Department in January 2000, relating to Claims Direct.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not hold any correspondence meeting the description in your question so the question of publication does not arise.

Correspondence

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the letters of 11 May, 13 July and 13 September from the hon. Member for Canterbury, regarding the UK's involvement in the European Space Agency's Aurora Mars Exploration Programme.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 14 December 2004
	I am extremely sorry for the delay in responding to these letters.
	I understand that my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, responded to the hon. Member on 16 December.

Departmental Files

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many departmental files have been destroyed in each of the past five years.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Patricia Hewitt: The following number of DTI files have been destroyed in each of the past five years.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1999–2000 52,605 
			 2000–01 73,815 
			 2001–02 71,260 
			 2002–03 64,820 
			 2003–04 97,020 
		
	
	DTI operates a centralised system of reviewing records. Records have a first review when they are between eight to 10-years-old. The files are examined to establish if they should be retained for departmental administrative purposes or whether they have any potential historical value. Approximately 85 per cent. of DTI files are destroyed at first review. Files that are retained are then selected for a second review when they are 25-years-old. They are re-examined to establish whether they have any continuing administrative value or should be transferred to The National Archives (TNA) for permanent preservation. Approximately 2 per cent. of DTI files are sent to TNA. Public records cannot be retained for longer than 30 years without the permission of the Lord Chancellor.

Energy Prices

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to minimise the effects of rising energy prices on the Scottish economy; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps her Department is taking to mitigate the impact of rising energy prices on the manufacturing sector of Scottish industry.

Mike O'Brien: Ofgem has now announced its conclusions on its investigation into gas price increases in 2003 and 2004. It has concluded that the main causes of rising UK gas prices are high oil prices feeding into gas prices and declining UK gas supplies. Ofgem is taking two courses of action. It is asking the European Commission to put more resources into making gas competition work, and is continuing to examine why some UK gas supplies did not reach the market.
	While the cost of gas to industry has been rising recently, this should be seen in the context of historical trends. In real terms gas prices for industrial users in 2003 were nearly 30 per cent. below their level in 1990 and well below their average over the last 30 years.
	Electricity prices have increased mainly as a result of the rise in gas prices and the recovery in wholesale prices from unsustainably low levels in 2002. Industrial electricity prices in 2003 were nearly 50 per cent. below their 1990 levels. Even after the latest increases we expect prices to remain competitive with those of our major EU competitors.
	The Department has recently published a report by Oxford Economic Research Associates which concluded that the UK has the most competitive energy markets in Europe. The report is available at:
	www.dti.gov.uk/energy/gas_and_electricity/competitiveness_structure/psa_final.pdf

Energy Prices

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the impact of rising energy prices on the competitiveness of Scottish industry.

Mike O'Brien: The Department is watching with care the impact of rising energy prices on British manufacturing. Ministers and officials have met with industry groups and companies to address their concerns in this area.
	The increases are in the main a result of market forces and follow a period in which energy prices have generally been at historically low levels in real terms. The UK has the most competitive energy market in the EU and industrial electricity and gas prices have been among the lowest in the EU until recently.

EU Legislation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the European Union directives and regulations relating to her Department that have been implemented in each of the last two years, specifying (a) the title and purpose of each, (b) the cost to public funds of each and (c) the cost to businesses of each.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 4 March 2002, Official Report, column 2W.

External Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total external spending by her Department was on public-private partnership (PPP) consultants in each of the last two years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PPP consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by her Department over this period; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department employed advisers to consider options for private sector participation in BNFL as part of a wider joint strategy review and its subsequent implementation. The team was made up of a mixture of permanent staff and consultants and, as such, the work carried out was not billed separately and cannot be separated from the total figures. The work was carried out between April and December 2004. The total cost for the whole project was £2.8 million and a total of three consultancy firms were used in the full study.

Fireworks

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firework-related (a) fatalities and (b) injuries occurred in England in (i) 2002, (ii) 2003 and (iii) 2004.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In answer to (a) , during 2002 and 2003 there were no fatalities in the UK as a result of the use of fireworks. The injury statistics for the fireworks season are published annually and I expect the figures for 2004 to be published some time in March. However, I have not been made aware of any fatalities during the 2004 period.
	With regard to (b) , during 2002 and in England there were a total of 833 injuries. In 2003 there were 974. Again, with regard to the figures for 2004, a comparative figure for this period is not yet available for the UK.

Manufacturing (Government Support)

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Government support for manufacturing in (a) the West Midlands, (b) Birmingham and (c) Hodge Hill since 2001; and what support will be available over the next three years.

Jacqui Smith: Manufacturing in the region is a complex picture with DTI and its partners providing a wide range of support. In 2002, the regional development agency for the West Midlands, Advantage West Midlands (AWM), produced a strategy for manufacturing, aimed at modernising skills and the various supply chains within the region to help its long-term future. Some initiatives we are supporting to take forward this strategy are:
	Giving £37 million towards the setting up of an International Automotive Research Centre in partnership with Ford's Premier Automotive Group and Warwick University. This will focus on improving engineering skills and technology transfer between OEMs and academia to the region's automotive suppliers.
	As part of AWM's Modernisation Programme, the 'Accelerate' Programme, with support from Europe, offers further help to automotive suppliers in the region. Up until 2003, over 1,500 companies have been assisted with advice on production efficiencies and best practice resulting in over 16,000 jobs being created and safeguarded. 16 companies in the Hodge Hill constituency are currently participating in the programme.
	AWM's diversification programme also helps companies with new product development, improving business processes, supporting start-ups and improving access to finance. Its initial target to assist 800 businesses in the region by March 2005 has already been exceeded.
	As part of the DTI-supported SMMT "Industry Forum", the "Automotive Academy" has been established, as a national £15 million initiative, aimed at enhancing skills, productivity and competitiveness of the UK motor industry. It has a delivery hub in the West Midlands, complementing the work of the Accelerate Programme.
	The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) is one often in the country, jointly funded by DTI and, in the West Midlands, AWM and launched in 2002. Based in Wolverhampton, it has assisted over 900 businesses so far (against a three year target of 1,050) including 31 in the Hodge Hill constituency. As a result, over 70 per cent. of businesses invested money on improving their businesses. Nationally, manufacturing has been boosted by over £53 million as a result of MAS activities with an average of £100,000 added value to each participating manufacturer.
	Capital investment support to industry in the Assisted Areas of the region is also given through the DTI's Selective Financial Investment in England (SFIE)—formerly RSA—scheme. Since 2001, 114 offers of grant worth £46 million have been made. Of these, 28 offers worth £19.4 million have been made to companies in Birmingham, helping to create 1,268.5 new jobs and safeguard 1,816.5. Included is Frenco International Ltd. in Kitts Green, which received a £95,000 grant in 2004 towards investment supporting the creation of six new jobs and the safeguarding of a further three. In addition, LDV in Washwood Heath is receiving £15 million in grant to support the manufacture of a brand new van.
	Although it is not possible to provide a figure for funding that will be available over the next three years, manufacturing remains an important part of the West Midlands industrial landscape, which is recognised in the Regional Economic Strategy (RES), which AWM and its partners will continue to actively deliver against over the next three years. This will include the continuation of some of the successful initiatives as detailed.

Medicines (Packaging)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the pharmaceutical industry on the effects of medicines supplied to patients in the UK being provided in tamper-proof and patient-safe packaging.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) undertook a full public consultation in advance of the introduction of the Medicines (Child Safety) Regulations 2003, which enabled implementation of a new national standard for packaging aimed at reducing child poisonings. The MHRA also had discussion with representatives of the pharmaceutical industry and other interested parties about implementation of the standard, including a guideline to assist the industry in its implementation. Tamper-evident packaging is not required, nor prohibited, in law. The MHRA, however, monitors initiatives in medicines packaging to keep abreast of industry developments in this area. Tamper-evident packaging is one of many such areas that the MHRA has heard presentations on.

Minimum Wage

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will raise the minimum wage to the level recommended by the TUC.

Gerry Sutcliffe: As you may know, the minimum wage rates are set by the Government based on the recommendations of the independent Low Pay Commission, which consists of representatives from a range of employee, employer and academic backgrounds. The commission is presently carrying out an extensive consultation and fact finding exercise with employers, unions and others and will then consider the issues very carefully before putting forward recommendations to the Government in February 2005. As part of their remit the commission have been asked to review levels of each of the different minimum wage rates and make recommendations, if appropriate, for change.

Ministerial Visits

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what ministerial visits are planned for each Minister in her Department in the next six months; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: My ministerial colleagues and I will undertake a broad range of visits over the next six months. It is not possible to provide the detailed information requested as it can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Nuclear Industry

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate on safety concerns in relation to British Energy's advanced gas-cooled nuclear reactors.

Mike O'Brien: I meet with Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations Inspectorate from time to time to discuss various issues concerning regulation of safety in the nuclear industry, including advanced gas-cooled reactors. I last met him on 20 October 2004.

Nuclear Industry

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets will be set for the National Decommissioning Authority; and what its budget will be for the first year of operation.

Mike O'Brien: From 1 April 2005, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) will focus on the clean-up of the UK's civil public sector nuclear legacy in a safe, secure, and cost-effective manner. The NDA's draft Annual Plan (available on its website) sets out what the NDA intends to achieve in its first year of operation at each of its sites. This work will contribute to the achievement of the Government's Public Service Agreement for the NDA which is to: reduce the civil nuclear liability by 10 per cent. by 2010; establish a safe, innovative and dynamic market for nuclear clean-up; deliver annual 2 per cent. efficiency gains from 2006–07; and, ensure successful competitions have been completed for the management of at least 50 per cent. of UK nuclear sites by end 2008. Work is now under way to set the more detailed key performance indicators and milestones that will allow my Department to be assured that the NDA is making progress against these targets. The NDA's budget for 2005–06 will be £2.2 billion.

Parliamentary Questions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what target her Department sets for the maximum acceptable time to respond in full to a parliamentary question; and what percentage of answers given by her Department failed to meet this target in each parliamentary session from 1997–98 to 2003–04.

Patricia Hewitt: I, and my team of Ministers aim to ensure that Members receive a substantive response to their named day question on the named day and also endeavour to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled. Unfortunately this is not always possible but this Department makes every effort to achieve these timescales.
	The following shows the percentage of questions answered within these timescales since the last General Election.
	
		
			  Named day questions Ordinary written questions 
		
		
			 2001–02 39 78 
			 2002–03 34 80 
			 2003–04 35 76

Post Office Card Accounts

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people with Post Office card accounts in receipt of the state pension have had a red flag placed on their accounts preventing access in each of the last 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The administration of the Post office card account is a commercial matter for Post Office Ltd. I understand from the company that term 'red flag' is not one that they use with regard to the Post Office card account. If the term refers to instances where the provision of the card account service has been withdrawn then no accounts have been flagged in this way in the last 12 months.

Post Offices

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices there are in the UK.

Gerry Sutcliffe: As at 30 September 2004, the latest date for which quarterly statistics are available, there were 15,304 post offices in the UK.

Science Funding

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding was provided by her Department for science in (a) the West Midlands, (b) Birmingham and (c) Hodge Hill since 2001; and what support will be made available in the next three years.

Jacqui Smith: The DTI provides support for a wide range of activities to help develop science and technology in the UK and facilitate its transfer to companies to help them improve their competitiveness. Since 1997 the national science budget has more than doubled and will reach £3.3 billion by 2007–08. In addition, a further £205 million has been earmarked nationally to drive forward the DTI's technology strategy. Funds from both streams will help bring major benefits to companies in the West Midlands. This is a key priority for the regional development agency, Advantage West Midlands and its partners and some of the larger examples of work with the regions' universities and other organisations to take forward these aims are as follows:
	In the Wolverhampton and Telford High Technology Corridor, over £2.5 million is being spent to assess companies' needs in the polymers industry and to help clustering activities
	In the same Technology Corridor, nearly £2 million is supporting activity in the Advanced Engineering cluster
	Also in this Technology Corridor, £7 million is supporting a pioneering scheme with the University of Wolverhampton to provide start-up and grow-on space for high technology companies in e-commerce and e-engineering
	Birmingham University is receiving £2.8 million to develop equipment to establish a Visualisation and 3D Imaging network
	It is also receiving £2.5 million to develop a centre of Computational Intelligence and Applications in an area where the region has been slow to pick up and apply this leading technology
	The Premium Automotive Research and Development Programme, based at Warwick University is receiving £32 million to help automotive suppliers in the region accelerate their competitive capabilities
	Keele University is managing a £12.7 million scheme, including £1.4 million from AWM, to provide high spec innovation centres in medical technologies
	Aston University is receiving nearly £4 million to provide a national and European Centre of Excellence in clinical science and medical technology, an area where the West Midlands has a significant presence.

Travel Costs

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total travel costs to her Department have been for (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials for each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 9 December 2004
	The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Agricultural Students

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Department's strategy is towards encouraging entrants to agricultural colleges and university agricultural departments for (a) farm-based courses and (b) non-farm-based rural courses.

Kim Howells: It is a matter for prospective learners themselves to make course choices that match their achievements to date, interests and aspirations; and for providers of further and higher education to determine what courses they offer. However, the Department supports a number of developments helping those involved with, or considering, land-based education and training provision.
	These developments include:
	a review of further education land-based provision commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) which looked at patterns of course availability and how the sector is changing in response to market demand;
	support for Foundation Degrees (of the available places for 2004/06, over 200 places were allocated to the agriculture and forestry area);
	development by Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based sector—with industry—of a careers and recruitment strategy which will help to ensure that there is accurate information about careers, courses and providers within the sector. Lantra continues to work with awarding bodies and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to ensure that the provision of land-based qualifications are fit for purpose and based on industry-derived national occupational standards;
	provision by the Department of impartial careers information to young people through publications (such as "Working in Agriculture and Horticulture" and web-based products (such as the "jobs4u" database) describing what it is like to work in the land-based sector and giving information on relevant qualifications and skills.
	In addition, the Department helps support rural learners to engage with FE and HE learning. For example, Aimhigher Partnerships covering rural areas provide targeted support, such as meeting transport costs to enable schools in remote areas to engage in outreach activities with higher education institutions and exploring access routes to HE for those from rural communities. The LSC National Office monitors a range of local LSC initiatives to engage rural learners, including ones promoting access to Apprenticeships and Work Based Learning.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what crèche facilities are provided by his Department; and at what cost.

Stephen Twigg: My Department is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for its staff and supports a range of childcare provision which help staff balance family and working life. We are currently reviewing childcare provision and considering how salary sacrifice can allow staff access to further childcare support.
	Jointly with DWP, workplace nurseries provide 100 places for staff working in Sheffield and Runcorn. In addition playschemes operate during the school holidays for children in full-time education and are available for staff working in Sheffield, Runcorn, Darlington and London.
	My Department also provides childcare nursery vouchers to staff working in London, Sheffield, Darlington and Runcorn for children aged 0 to 4 years.
	In 2003/04 the provision was used by 321 children at a cost of £307,204.

Education Maintenance Allowance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many extra 16 to 18 years olds he expects to remain in education as a result of education maintenance allowances in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) South West England.

Ivan Lewis: Since the start of the academic year, as of 30 November 2004, 1,802 young people in Gloucestershire Local Authority area have received payments under the national EMA scheme. The number is increasing at a steady rate and we expect it to continue to do so. In 2004/05 across England we expect the number of 16 to 18 year olds participating in education to increase by 35,000 (3.8 percentage points) as a direct result of EMA. By 2006/07, when EMA is available to all eligible 16 to 18 year olds, an additional 72,000 young people will be in further education. If the same participation increase is applied to the South West region an additional 7,200 16 to 18 year olds will be participating in further education by 2006/07. Estimates are not available at Local Authority level.

Employer Training Pilots

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the experience of Employer Training Pilots and its application to the national scheme roll-out.

Ivan Lewis: Employer Training Pilots (ETPs) were launched in September 2002 to test new ways of encouraging employers to offer training, especially for their lower skilled employees. The pilots, which now cover around one third of England, have benefited over 100,000 learners, most of whom left school before the age of 16 and around 15,000 employers, of which 70 per cent. had less than 50 employees. ETPs have also been effective in encouraging more colleges and providers to deliver training on employers' premises, at a time and in a manner suited to the shift patterns of their staff.
	The pilots have been independently evaluated by the Institute for Employment Studies and have also been the subject of a review by the Adult Learning Inspectorate. Both of these point to their overwhelming success and the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the PBR, the Government's intention to launch a new national employer training programme in 2006/07. The new programme will draw on the lessons learned from ETP and will incorporate key elements of the pilots including:
	free or heavily subsidised training for employees to help them overcome basic skills needs and/or to achieve their first level 2 qualification;
	a similar level of support towards the cost of a level 3 qualification for those employees who can jump straight to a level 3;
	brokerage to help employers identify providers who are able to deliver the training they need flexibly in the workplace, to help them locate other sources of funding for which they may qualify and to encourage them to finance other elements of training themselves;
	information and advice to learners in respect of their further development.
	The new programme will cover the whole of England from 2007/08.

Education Funding

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the real terms change in the amount of central Government funding allocated to Leicestershire education authority has been since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: Since 1997, per pupil funding for pupils aged 3–19 rose by £710 in real terms from £2,670 per pupil to £3,380 per pupil—an increase of 26 per cent. This includes funding via Education Formula Spending/Standard Spending Assessment and grants allocated at an LEA level, and excludes the pensions transfer to EPS and the Learning and Skills Council.

Education Funding

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the spend per head has been on primary school pupils in Leicestershire in each academic year since 1997–98.

Stephen Twigg: Local education authority expenditure data is collected by financial year. The information is contained within the following table:
	
		Expenditure per primary(14) pupil in Leicestershire LEA since 1997–98(15) -- £
		
			  Primary education(14) Pre-Primary and Primary education(14) 
			  School based expendtiture3, 4 per pupil(19) Combined LEA and school based expenditure(18) per pupil(19) School based expenditure3, 4 per pupil Combined LEA and school based expenditure(18) per pupil(19) 
		
		
			 1997–98(20) n/a n/a 1,660 1,790 
			 1998–99(20) n/a n/a 1,810 1,990 
			  
			 1999–00(21) 1,930 2,070 2,000 2,140 
			 2000–01 2,080 2,220 2,160 2,300 
			 2001–02 2,260 2,420 2,420 2,590 
			  
			 2002–034, 9 2,190 n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	(14) Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of Section 52 for financial year 1999–2000.
	(15) 1999–2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the ODPM to the Section 52 form from the DfES. 2002–03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. The change in sources is shown by the dotted line.
	(16) School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure.
	(17) The 2002–03 school based expenditure calculation is broadly similar to the calculation in previous years. However, 2001–02 and earlier years includes all premature retirement compensation (PRC) and Crombie payments, mandatory PRC payments and other indirect employee expenses, while in 2002–03 only the schools element of these categories is included. In 2001–02 this accounted for approximately £70 per pupil of the England total, while the schools element of these categories accounted for approximately £50 per pupil of the England total in 2002–03. Also, for some LEAs, expenditure that had previously been attributed to the school sectors was reported within the LEA part of the form in 2002–03 and would therefore be excluded, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources.
	(18) The combined LEA and school based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in LEA maintained establishments and pupils educated by the LEA other than in maintained establishments. This includes both school based expenditure and ail elements of central LEA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA). A sector breakdown for combined LEA and school based expenditure is not available in 2002–03.
	(19) Pupil numbers include only those pupils attending maintained establishments within the primary and pre-primary sectors and are drawn from the DfES Annual Schools Census. For 1999–2000 onwards, the combined LEA and school based expenditure for pre-primary also includes private voluntary independent (PVI) under five pupil numbers drawn from the Early Years Census. All pupil numbers are adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
	(20) Spending in 1997–98 reflects the transfer of monies from local government to central Government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 1998–99.
	(21) The 1999–2000 figures reflect the return of grant maintained schools to local authority maintenance.
	(22) School based expenditure in nursery schools was not recorded in 2002–03.
	Note: Figures are reported in cash terms and rounded to the nearest £10 as reported by the LEA.

Education Funding

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much her Department spent on (a) pre-schools (b) primary schools and (c) secondary schools in the London Borough of Southwark in each year since 1996–97; and how much was spent by the London Borough of Southwark from locally-generated revenue in each case.

Stephen Twigg: The Department funds Local Education Authorities and it is for them to decide how that funding is allocated within their area. Information relating to the spending on pre-primary, primary and secondary schools in Southwark Education Authority is provided in the table Locally generated revenue data is not collected by my Department.
	
		Combined LEA and school based net expenditure(23) by Southwark LEA 1996–97 to 2002–03(24) -- £
		
			  Pre-primary education(25) Primary education(25) Pre-primary and Primary education(25) Secondary education Overall LEA and school based expenditure 
		
		
			 1996–97 (28)— (28)— 57,031,000 25,076,000 107,868,000 
			 1997–98(26) (28)— (28)— 58,366,000 24,081,000 110,372,000 
			 1998–99(26) (28)— (28)— 61,397,000 27,151,000 117,307,000 
			 1999–2000(26) 4,256,000 71,167,000 75,423,000 39,843.000 133,853,000 
			 2000–01 5,427,000 75,595,000 81,022,000 41,101,000 136,564,000 
			 2001–02 2,999,000 94,595,000 97,593,000 58,621,000 171,473,000 
			 2002–03(23)(5) (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 168,094,000 
		
	
	(23) The combined LEA and school based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in LEA maintained establishments and pupils educated by the LEA other than in maintained establishments. This includes both school based expenditure and all elements of central LEA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA). A sector breakdown for combined LEA and school based expenditure is not available in 2002–03 due to the redesign of the Section 52 Outturn Table A where central LEA expenditure is no longer split by phase.
	(24) 1999–2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the ODPM to the Section 52 form from the DfES. 2002–03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. The change in sources is shown by the dotted line.
	(25) Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of Section 52 for financial year 1999–2000.
	(26) Spending in 1997–98 reflects the transfer of monies from local government to central government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 1998–99. The 1999–00 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance.
	(27) In 2002–03 Southwark LEA were one of a group of LEAs whose net current expenditure was lower than expected. It is suspected that this was caused by the misreporting of funding in the income column of their 2002–03 Outturn Statement Table A.
	(28) Not available
	(5)
	Note:
	Figures reported in cash terms are rounded to the nearest £1,000 as reported by the LEA.

Exeter University

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on his policy on the future of the chemistry, music and Italian departments at Exeter University.

Kim Howells: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous organisations responsible for their own academic direction and strategic use of funds. Exeter University have set out their plans for the subjects mentioned.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked the Higher Education Funding Council of England for advise on subjects or courses of national strategic importance, where intervention might be appropriate to strengthen or secure them.

Higher Education

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils from the Bassetlaw constituency have entered higher education in each of the last 30 years.

Kim Howells: The available information is taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record. Information on the parliamentary constituency domicile of a student is derived from the students' postcode.
	
		18 year old undergraduate entrants to UK HE institutions from Bassetlaw constituency
		
			 Academic year Entrants 
		
		
			 1997/98(29) 175 
			 1998/99 190 
			 1999/00 180 
			 2000/01 170 
			 2001/02 190 
			 2002/03 185 
		
	
	(29) Figures for 1997–98 do not include entrants at the Open University as these can not be identified on the dataset.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are based upon a snapshot as at 1 December for 18 year olds who have a known postcode. In each year, a small number of UK domiciled students did not have a valid postcode.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record

Higher Education

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on recent developments in the progression of young people from apprenticeships into higher education.

Kim Howells: Details of entry qualifications of entrants to HE are collected annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) but students with Apprenticeships are not identified separately.
	We are committed to strengthening the links between HE and Apprenticeship, and the Advanced Apprenticeship now includes a technical certificate to support that progression. In addition we are exploring best practice in supporting Advanced Apprentices into higher education in eight sectors. The expansion of Foundation Degrees is another way that apprentices can access higher education opportunities.

Higher Education

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students aged 18 years entered higher education in the academic year 2004/05 who were resident in (a) the City of Manchester and (b) Manchester, Withington constituency.

Kim Howells: holding answer 6 December 2004
	The latest available information is taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record. Information on the parliamentary constituency of a student is derived from the students' postcode.
	
		18 year old undergraduate entrants from Manchester Withington constituency and the City of Manchester, 2002/03
		
			 Domicile Entrants 
		
		
			 Manchester, Withington 190 
			 City of Manchester(30) 600 
		
	
	(30) Defined as those students domiciled in the constituencies: Manchester Blackley, Manchester Central, Manchester Gorton and Manchester Withington.
	Note:
	Figures are based upon a snapshot as at 1 December for 18 year olds who have a known postcode. In 2002/03, 2 per cent. of UK domiciled students did not have a valid postcode. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record.

Key Stage Results

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of pupils at each Key Stage achieved the standard expected of (a) pupils of their age, (b) pupils at each year below their age and (c) pupils at each year above their age in (i) reading/English and (ii) mathematics in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 13 December 2004
	The percentages of Key Stage 1 pupils achieving (a) the expected level, (b) below the expected level and (c) above the expected level for 7-year-olds (Level 2) in reading, writing and mathematics for 1997–2004 are as follows:
	
		Percentage
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 (a) At Level 2   
			 Reading 54 54 52 55 55 54 56 56 
			 Writing 74 74 75 76 76 76 65 66 
			 Maths 63 65 65 64 63 59 61 62 
			  
			 (b) Below Level 2   
			 Reading 20 20 18 17 16 16 16 17 
			 Writing 20 19 17 16 14 15 19 18 
			 Maths 17 16 13 10 9 10 10 10 
			  
			 (c) Above Level 2   
			 Reading 26 26 29 28 29 30 28 29 
			 Writing 6 7 8 9 9 9 16 16 
			 Maths 20 19 21 25 28 31 29 28 
		
	
	The percentages of Key Stage 2 pupils achieving (a) the expected level, (b) below the expected level and (c) above the expected level for 11-year-olds (Level 4) in reading, writing, English and mathematics for 1997–2004 are as follows:
	
		Percentage
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 (revised) 
		
		
			 (a) At Level 4   
			 English 48 48 48 46 46 46 48 50 
			 Reading 47 48 47 41 40 42 39 44 
			 Writing 40 40 41 42 43 43 45 47 
			 Maths 44 42 45 47 45 46 44 43 
			  
			 (b) Below Level 4   
			 English 33 32 27 23 23 23 23 21 
			 Reading 26 26 20 15 17 19 17 16 
			 Writing 39 44 44 43 41 39 38 36 
			 Maths 35 38 29 26 27 25 26 25 
			  
			 (c) Above Level 4   
			 English 16 17 22 29 29 29 27 27 
			 Reading 20 23 31 42 42 38 42 39 
			 Writing 14 13 13 13 14 17 15 17 
			 Maths 18 17 24 24 25 27 29 31 
		
	
	The percentages of Key Stage 3 pupils achieving (a) the expected level, (b) below the expected level and (c) above the expected level for 14-year-olds (Level 5) in English and mathematics for 1997–2004 are as follows:
	
		Percentage
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 (provisional) 
		
		
			 (a) At Level 5   
			 English 33 30 36 35 32 33 34 37 
			 Maths 23 24 24 24 24 22 22 21 
			  
			 (b) Below Level 5   
			 English 37 32 32 32 30 25 26 25 
			 Maths 35 36 33 31 29 27 25 24 
			  
			 (c) Above Level 5   
			 English 25 35 28 29 32 32 35 34 
			 Maths 37 36 38 41 43 45 49 52

Private Finance Initiative

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts with his Department have been won by subsidiaries of Halliburton in each year since 1997; what the terms were of each contract; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: My Department does not have any private finance initiative or public private partnerships contracts which have been awarded to any subsidiaries of Halliburton.

School Internet Connections

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the London borough of Wandsworth are connected to the internet.

Stephen Twigg: Over 99 per cent. of all schools in England had access to the internet from April 2002.
	95 per cent. (54) of primary schools in Wandsworth had access to broadband as at October 2004.
	100 per cent. (10) of secondary schools in Wandsworth had access to broadband as at October 2004.

School Places

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps an individual school must take in order to expand the number of places it makes available; and if he will list sources of (a) revenue and (b) capital funding available to schools wishing to expand.

Stephen Twigg: If a school wishes to expand its physical capacity by 25 per cent., or by 27 places annually, it must consult interested parties in the area and then publish details of its proposals in a local newspaper. Following publication people can submit comments or objections. Proposals are decided by the local School Organisation Committee (SOC) or by an independent adjudicator if the SOC cannot decide unanimously. For popular and successful schools, there is a presumption that proposals for expansion should be approved so that as many parents as possible are able to gain a place for their children at the school. As set out in the Department's Five Year Strategy, we are currently consulting on a fast-track process for the expansion of successful and popular secondary schools.
	For smaller scale expansions, the proposed increased admission number should be included in the annual consultation on the school's admission arrangements.
	An LEA's recurrent funding formula is based predominately on pupil numbers on the school roll. As a school's roll increases in size, it will attract more funding under the local LEA's delegation formula; in turn, more pupils may also contribute towards a school receiving more devolved formula capital funding, Schools Standards Grant (SSG) and Standards Fund funding, as each of these resources can contain an element of "per pupil" funding within them.
	If the school is a popular and successful secondary school it may apply direct to the Department for a contribution to the capital cost of building work—£500,000 if the school has a sixth form, £400,000 if not. If the balance of funding is not available from other sources, the Department may offer to fund the full expansion. These offers of funding are provisional on statutory proposals to expand being approved.

School Swimming

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  who has responsibility to ensure that the compulsory National Curriculum physical education requirement in respect of swimming is met by schools; and what the route of redress for pupils is if it is not;
	(2)  what progress has been made to improve swimming tuition at Key Stage 2 since the publication of the Swimming in Key Stage 2 Report by Ofsted in 2000; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many school swimming pools in (a) Bedfordshire and (b) England have been removed since 1997.

Mr. Twigg: Section 79 of the Education Act 2002 puts a requirement on every LEA to ensure that all of the schools they maintain satisfy the requirements of the school curriculum (which includes the National Curriculum). A similar requirement to satisfy the requirements of the school curriculum is also placed, by the same section, on the governing body and head teacher of every school. If any part of the requirement is not being met pupils should complain to their head teacher in the first instance. Complaints can be made to the local education authority and ultimately the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.
	Our physical education, school sport and club links strategy, being implemented jointly with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, provides targeted support to enhance school swimming. Since the Ofsted report on Key Stage 2 Swimming was published in 2000, our swimming strategy has taken forward all of the key recommendations made by the Swimming Advisory Group. We have:
	created a new swimming and water safety website which provides practical support for schools and swimming teachers;
	carried out a pilot programme which tests out how best to support those children who reach the end of Key Stage 2 and are not able to swim 25 metres. Over 1000 pupils have benefited from the scheme; and
	published a Swimming Charter in December 2003 which provides guidance and best practice examples to help schools overcome many of the challenges they face when planning and delivering swimming.
	Furthermore, as part of its wider provision, the PE and School Sport National Professional Development Programme will help to improve the quality of swimming teaching throughout England. The Programme identifies where there is most need and provides specific professional development and support to help ensure high quality swimming tuition in schools.
	A survey, carried out jointly by the Times Educational Supplement and the Central Council for Physical Recreation and published in August 2003, found that 84 per cent., or five in six, pupils are able to swim safely at least 25 metres by the end of Key Stage 2.
	This is a modest improvement on the position reported to us by Ofsted in 2000-when 80 per cent., or four in five pupils in England, achieved this target. We will be making an announcement shortly on future funding to support further school swimming.
	Information relating to the removal of school swimming pools is not collected centrally.

Skills (Black/Minority Ethnic Communities)

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he is taking to improve skills within black and minority ethnic communities.

Ivan Lewis: The DfES, with its agencies and partners, seeks to ensure that everyone has fair and equal access to all training opportunities. In addition we have developed a range of initiatives aimed specifically at improving the access and take-up of training within black and minority ethnic communities. That range is set out in our Race Equality Scheme, originally published in 2002, with an updated version scheduled for publication next summer. These include the work of the National Employer Panel, the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant, and the equivalent Ethnic Minority Student Achievement Grant.

Stapleford Park Reception

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost was of the reception held by her Department in August at Stapleford Park in Leicestershire; on what basis the venue was selected; whether nearby venues were invited to tender; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: Leicestershire Learning and Skills Council held an event at Stapleford Park in August not the Department for Education and Skills. I have written to the head of Leicestershire Learning and Skills Council asking her to write to the hon. Member providing the information requested.

Student Finance

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills of each £1 the Government lend in student loans, what percentage is (a) repaid and (b) not repaid; and of (b) , what percentage is not repaid due to the interest subsidy on student loans.

Kim Howells: The Secretary of State for Education and Skills only has responsibility for student loans paid to higher education students domiciled in England and Wales and this answer provides data relating to those students.
	The percentage of loans issued that we forecast not to be repaid is around 5 per cent. for income contingent loans (the type of loan issued since 1998/99). The remaining percentage is expected to be repaid. The interest subsidy does not affect the repayment of the loan principal.

Student Finance

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the projected expenditure is of the Student Loans Company on (a) income-contingent loans, (b) hardship loans and (c) mortgage loans for the academic years (i) 2001/02, (ii) 2002/03, (iii) 2003/04 and (iv) 2004/05.

Kim Howells: Data on SLC cash expenditure for income-contingent loans, hardship loans and mortgage style loans are shown in the table. Data are for students normally domiciled in the United Kingdom. The data on income contingent and mortgage style loans are included in the Statistical First Release (SLC SFR 01/2004) issued on 30 November.
	
		Expenditure by the Student Loans Company for UK domiciled students—academic years 2001/02 to 2004/05(31) -- £ million
		
			  Academic year 
			  2001/02 2002/03 (31)2003/04 (31)2004/05 
		
		
			 Income-contingent loans 2,455 2,617 2,705 (32)2,538 
			 Mortgage style loans 35 9 2 (33)— 
			 Hardship loans(34) 30 30 29 (33)— 
		
	
	(31) Provisional.
	(32) Expenditure is based on the position as at 14 November 2004. This will increase as late applications are processed.
	(33) Not available.
	(34) Hardship loans have been discontinued in 2004/05 following changes to the statutory and discretionary support system, including the introduction of the higher education grant.

Teachers

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps have been taken since 1997 to recruit more male primary school teachers; and what the costs were of advertising and promotional campaigns to that end.

Stephen Twigg: Since 1997, the main activity to increase overall numbers of male primary school teachers has been through the Teacher Training Agency's recruitment campaign. This includes targeting sections of the media with a predominantly male audience and encompasses advertising, public relations and other forms of marketing and promotional activity. Since 1999/2000, the earliest year for which figures are available, there has been a 36 per cent. increase in the number of male primary trainee teachers.
	It is not possible to disaggregate the specific costs of campaigns aimed at attracting men into primary teaching.

Truancy (Penalty Notice)

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the likely costs to agencies involved in administering an individual fixed penalty notice for non-school attendance issued by a local education authority;
	(2)  what estimate the Department has made of the number of fixed penalty notices for non-attendance that a local education authority would need to issue to parents for this scheme to be cost neutral to the local authority.

Stephen Twigg: The administration of the penalty notices scheme for truancy is a matter for the relevant local education authority. The cost to each authority will depend on local circumstances and local arrangements.
	We have no estimate of the cost of administering an individual penalty notice for truancy nor of the numbers that would need to be issued to render the scheme cost neutral.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people with autistic spectrum disorders are using Government specialist employment programmes.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2004, Official Report, column 368W, on benefit fraud, what the reasons are for the reduction in the number of local authority benefit fraud inspectors.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available as staffing levels are a matter for individual local authorities. There have been some changes to the methodology used to construct these figures, introduced to ease the burden on local authorities. These probably account for some of the reduction, but the exact impact is not available. Whilst it may appear that there may be fewer staff investigating fraud our latest figures show improvements in performance with a year on year increase in the number of successful prosecutions and sanctions.
	The Government's strategy focuses on preventing fraud from entering the benefits system, deterring those who may be tempted and detecting it when it does happen. We have adopted an end-to-end approach which protects benefits from the point of claim right through to the cessation of payment. There is therefore a far greater number of local authority benefit staff involved in some aspect of programme protection than the number of fraud investigators would imply, although the precise split is not available.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which local authorities have been inspected by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate since it was established; and what percentage this represents of the total number of local authorities.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the following list. 41 per cent. of local authorities have been inspected.
	Benefit Fraud Inspectorate Published Reports:
	Name and Type of Inspection
	Allerdale Borough Council
	Angus Council
	Ashford
	Babergh District Council
	Barnsley Metropolitan Council
	Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
	Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council
	Birmingham City Council
	Blackpool Borough Council
	Blyth Valley Borough Council
	Boston
	Bournemouth Borough Council
	Braintree District Council
	Brighton and Hove Council
	Bristol City Council
	Broxbourne Borough Council
	Burnley Borough Council
	Bury Metropolitan Borough Council
	Caerphilly County Borough Council
	Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
	Canterbury
	Cardiff County Council
	Carlisle
	Castle Morpeth Borough Council
	Cherwell District Council
	Chester le Street
	City of Bradford Metropolitan Council
	City of Edinburgh Council
	City of Salford Council
	City of Stoke on Trent Council
	City of York Council
	Congleton Borough Council
	Council of the Isles of Scilly
	Coventry City Council
	Crawley Borough Council
	Derby City Council
	Derbyshire Dales Borough Council
	Dover District Council
	Dundee City Council
	East Devon District Council
	East Dunbartonshire Council
	East Lothian Council
	East Renfrewshire Council
	East Riding of Yorkshire Council
	East Staffs
	Eastbourne Borough Council
	Eden District Council
	Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council
	Elmbridge Borough Council
	Epsom and Ewell Borough Council
	Erewash Borough Council
	Fife Council
	Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council
	Glasgow City Council
	Gloucester City Council
	Hart District Council
	Hastings Borough Council
	Herefordshire
	Highland Council
	Huntingdonshire
	Inverclyde Council
	Ipswich Borough Council
	Isle of Wight Council
	Kensington and Chelsea
	Kerrier District Council
	Kingston upon Hull
	Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council
	Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
	Lancaster City Council
	Leeds City Council
	Leicester City Council
	Lichfield District Council
	Lincoln City Council
	Liverpool City Council
	London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
	London Borough of Barnet
	London Borough of Brent
	London Borough of Bromley
	London Borough of Camden
	London Borough of Croydon
	London Borough of Ealing
	London Borough of Enfield
	London Borough of Greenwich
	London Borough of Hackney
	London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
	London Borough of Haringey
	London Borough of Harrow
	London Borough of Islington
	London Borough of Lambeth
	London Borough of Lewisham
	London Borough of Newham
	London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
	London Borough of Southwark
	London Borough of Tower Hamlets
	London Borough of Waltham Forest
	London Borough of Wandsworth
	Macclesfield Borough Council
	Manchester City Council
	Medway Unitary Authority
	Merthyr Tydfil
	Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
	Milton Keynes Council
	Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
	Newcastle City Council
	North Ayrshire Council
	North Lanarkshire Council
	North West Leicestershire
	Northampton Borough Council
	Norwich City Council
	Nottingham City Council
	Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
	Oxford City Council
	Pendle
	Plymouth City Council
	Portsmouth City Council
	Powys County Council
	Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
	Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
	Rochford District Council
	Rother District Council
	Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
	Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
	Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
	Rutland
	Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
	Scarborough Borough Council
	Scottish Borders Council
	Sedgefield
	Sefton Council
	Sheffield City Council
	Shepway
	Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council
	South Ayrshire Council
	South Holland
	South Lakeland District Council
	Southampton City Council
	Stockton
	St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council
	Stirling Council
	Sunderland City Council
	Swale Borough Council
	Swindon Borough Council
	Teesdale District Council
	Telford & Wrekin Council
	Thanet District Council
	The City and County of Swansea Council
	Three Rivers District Council
	Torbay Council
	Torfaen
	Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council
	Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
	Watford
	Waveney District Council
	West Dunbartonshire Council
	West Wiltshire District Council
	Westminster City Council
	Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council
	Wokingham District Council
	Benefit Fraud Inspectorate Completed:
	Inspections: where reports await publication/entering on website.
	Bedford
	Breckland
	Chelmsford
	Fylde
	Gravesham
	Renfrewshire
	South Gloucestershire
	Wyre

Benefit Offices

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit offices there are in the UK.

Maria Eagle: DWP occupies approximately 1,800 buildings in Great Britain. Of these, The Pension Service is the major occupier in 44 buildings and Jobcentre Plus is the major occupier in 1,482. The Child Support Agency, The Appeals Service, Disability and Carers Service and the Department's Corporate Centre are major occupiers in a further 155 buildings.
	The remaining buildings are occupied by the Health and Safety Executive and the Rent Service and are not connected with benefits.
	Information about buildings in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Child Support Agency

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when Child Support Agency payments will be sent to (a) Amanda Thorogood, (b) Mark Young and (c) Michael Ashby, constituents of the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Derek Wyatt, dated 16 December 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when Child Support Agency payments will be sent to Amanda Thorogood, Mark Young and Michael Ashby, constituents of the honourable Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey.
	As individual cases are confidential, I will write to you separately about these cases. This is in line with paragraph 12, part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Citizens Pension

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to fund the introduction of a citizens pension in the UK paid to all pensioners on the basis of residency.

Malcolm Wicks: We are looking at a number of options to improve pension positions. A citizen's pension is an option, along with others, and deserves serious consideration.

Crisis Loans

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what circumstances staff who process applications for crisis loans are able to seek clarification of details from the applicant.

Chris Pond: The majority of crisis loan applications are made by applicants in person either by attending a Jobcentre Plus office or by telephone. Consequently all the required information will usually be acquired at the application stage.
	However, if there is insufficient information with which to come to a decision or there is any reason to doubt the validity of the application a Social Fund Decision Maker is required to ask for as much supporting evidence from the applicant as is reasonable and necessary to substantiate the application. The Decision Maker may also investigate the validity of any information provided either anonymously or in confidence and which casts doubt on other evidence held.
	It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all the evidence necessary to determine an application.

Disability Living Allowance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how long it took on average to process a disability living allowance application, broken down by level in the last period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what percentage of people were refused disability living allowance at each level on initial application in the last period for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The last period for which figures on the processing of claims is available is the month ending November 2004. During that period it took on average 34.3 days calculated in month, or 27.0 days calculated at year to date, to process initial disability living allowance (DLA) claims under normal rules.
	The information on people refused DLA is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:
	In the financial year 2003–04, 50 per cent. (220,215) of decisions made on new claims for DLA were refused.
	Note
	We are unable to break down the figures, as requested, by component or level as the claim is made for the benefit as a whole not for each component
	Sources
	1. Figures for the processing of claims are taken from DWP Disability and Carers Directorate Ml Key Reports.
	2. MIS Computer system, 100 per cent. data, figures rounded to the nearest five.

Disability Living Allowance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had on raising the cut-off age for disability living allowance.

Maria Eagle: None. It is normal for pensions and benefits schemes to contain different provisions for people at different stages of their lives and disability living allowance is focused on providing extra help to people who are severely disabled early, or relatively early, in life.
	Attendance allowance provides help with the disability-related extra costs of people who experience the onset of disability after age 65. Based on the need for personal care, this help is part of the wide range of support that the Government make available to older people so that they can have a decent and secure income in retirement and share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country.

Housing Allowance (Pathfinder Areas)

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on local housing allowance in each of the nine Pathfinder areas in (a) additional or increased housing benefit payments, (b) additional administrative costs and (c) additional funding for debt service and support services; and what percentage increase this represents on the previous year's expenditure in each area.

Chris Pond: We do not have sufficient data at this time to calculate the cost of additional benefit payments resulting from the local housing allowance (LHA). However, we estimate that the additional annual cost of the LHA in 2004–05 across all Pathfinders will be around £23 million. The cost will vary across each pathfinder, depending on the number of recipients and the level of rents in each area. It is currently not possible to say what this would be as a percentage of the total benefits spend. The estimated expenditure in each local authority (LA) is in the table.
	
		
			 Local authority Additional LHA costs (£ million) 
		
		
			 Blackpool 1.0 
			 Brighton 6.0 
			 Conwy 0.5 
			 Coventry 1.5 
			 Edinburgh 4.0 
			 Leeds 4.0 
			 Lewisham 4.5 
			 North East Lincolnshire 1.0 
			 Teinbridge 0.5 
		
	
	We have earmarked £6.2 million to support the additional administrative and IT costs associated with managing the implementation of LHA in the nine Pathfinder authorities. No funding has been allocated for "debt services". Although, in order to support those claimants who will be taking responsibility for paying rent to their landlord for the first time, local authorities have been funded to make suitable arrangements for the provision of appropriate help and guidance. The scope of the service provided will depend on the type and size of caseload and the anticipated level of demand in each authority.
	As part of the £6.2 million, in 2003–04, £2.4 million was allocated to the nine local authorities to fund additional administrative and IT costs. This amounts to an 11 per cent. increase across the nine authorities. Included in this figure was £100k to pay for the claimant support service as described.

Invalidity Benefit

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to help people on invalidity benefit to obtain employment; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Pathways to Work is a groundbreaking scheme designed to help people on incapacity benefits back into work. Early results from the current seven pilot areas are extremely encouraging. In his pre-Budget report on 2 December the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that these pilots will be extended, starting from October 2005, to an additional 14 Jobcentre Plus districts. This expansion will focus support on the 30 most disadvantaged local authority districts and means that the Pathways approach will be available to around 900,000 people.
	In addition to the extension of the Pathways pilots there were a number of supporting measures announced in the pre-Budget report. These include an extra £30 million for New Deal for Disabled People in 2005–06; changes to the work focused interview regime; and improved arrangements for people on incapacity benefits to try out work and to take up self-employment. Also announced was extra support for GPs, including the piloting of improved arrangements on fitness for work advice and placing employment adviser support within interested GPs' surgeries.

Overseas British Pensioners

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will estimate how many British pensioners are living abroad;
	(2)  if he will estimate how many British pensioners are living abroad in countries where UK pensions (a) are and (b) are not uprated;
	(3)  if he will estimate the additional cost to the Exchequer that would be incurred if the pension for British citizens living abroad in countries where the pension is not uprated were to receive the full uprate.

Malcolm Wicks: We uprate the state pension in countries with which we have a reciprocal agreement or where there is a legal requirement to do so.
	The number of people in receipt of state pension who are resident outside Great Britain is 970,000, of whom: 520,000 reside in countries where the state pension is not uprated and 450,000 reside in countries where the state pension is uprated.
	If all state pensions paid to people residing outside Great Britain were to be fully uprated and thereafter paid at the rate they would have been had the individuals concerned remained in Great Britain, the estimated extra cost in 2004–05 would be around £400 million and would increase year on year.
	Notes:
	1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10,000.
	2. Costs are in cash terms and are rounded to the nearest £10 million.
	3. Both caseload and costs are derived from the 5 per cent. sample.
	Source:
	DWP 5 per cent. administrative data sample as at 31 March 2004.

Pension Credit

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in (a) Burnley and (b) Lancashire are in receipt of pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is given in the following table.
	
		Pension credit recipients, 31 October 2004
		
			  Households Individuals 
		
		
			 Burnley 4,940 5,925 
			 Lancashire 53,775 65,640 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Figures are available for 31 October 2004 as the final output of processes that were put in place to deliver special monthly reporting during the first year of the roll-out of pension credit. As Parliament was told in the statement accompanying the last such report, data will in future be available on a quarterly basis, in line with standard departmental practice. The next report, covering data as at 31 December 2004, should be laid in the House in January 2005.
	3. Individual recipients may include a small number of partners under age 60.

Pension Credit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) individuals and (b) households were receiving (i) pension credit and (ii) the savings component of pension credit in Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central constituency as at 30 September; and what the average award was in each case.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on numbers of pension credit recipients in Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central and the average level of awards at 30 September and 31 October, where available, is given in the following tables. The average award of the savings element in Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central at the end of May 2004, the latest date for which this figure is available, was £7.89.
	
		Table 1: Pension credit recipients, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central constituency—30 September 2004
		
			  Households Individuals Average award (£) 
		
		
			 Pension credit 4,530 5,325 41.12 
			 Savings element of  pension credit 3,240 3,790 Not available 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Pension credit recipients, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central constituency—31 October 2004
		
			  Households Individuals Average award (£) 
		
		
			 Pension credit 4,545 5,345 41.05 
			 Savings element of  pension credit 3,255 3,810 Not available 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Numbers of recipients are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Figures are available for 31 October 2004 as the final output of processes that were put in place to deliver special monthly reporting during the first year of the roll-out of pension credit. As Parliament was told in the statement accompanying the last such report, data will in future be available on a quarterly basis, in line with standard departmental practice. The next report, covering data as at 31 December 2004, should be laid in the House in January 2005.
	3. Individual recipients include a small number of partners under age 60.
	4. The numbers of households and individuals in receipt of the savings element include those who were receiving the savings element only and those who were receiving both the savings and guarantee elements.

Pension Credit

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the latest estimate is of the number of pensioners in the Ribble Valley and Fulwood; how many are entitled to pension credit; and how many have taken up pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The most recent estimates of pensioner population by parliamentary constituency are contained in "Census 2001—Census Area Statistics for Parliamentary Constituencies in England and Wales", which is available in the Library. This shows that there were 21,338 people aged 60 or over living in the Ribble Valley constituency on Census Day. Information on the number of pensioners likely to be eligible for pension credit is not available at constituency level. Information on the number of pension credit recipients in the Ribble Valley constituency is given in the table.
	
		Ribble Valley constituency—pension credit recipients:31 October 2004
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Households 2,855 
			 Individuals 3,380 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures in the table are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Figures are available for 31 October 2004 as the final output of processes that were put in place to deliver special monthly reporting during the first year of the roll-out of pension credit. As Parliament was told in the statement accompanying the last such report, data will in future be available on a quarterly basis, in line with standard departmental practice. The next report, covering data as at 31 December 2004, should be laid in the House in January 2005.
	3. Individual recipients include a small number of partners under age 60.

Pension Credit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Perth constituency are in receipt of (a) pension credit and (b) pension savings credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is given in the following table.
	
		Pension credit recipients, Perth constituency, 31 October 2004
		
			  Households Individuals 
		
		
			 Pension credit 3,635 4,305 
			 Savings element of pension credit 2,730 3,225 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Numbers of recipients are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Figures are available for 31 October 2004 as the final output of processes that were put in place to deliver special monthly reporting during the first year of the roll-out of pension credit. As Parliament was told in the statement accompanying the last such report, data will in future be available on a quarterly basis, in line with standard departmental practice. The next report, covering data as at 31 December 2004, should be laid in the House in January 2005.
	3. Individual recipients include a small number of partners under age 60.
	4. The numbers of households and individuals in receipt of the savings element include those who were receiving the savings element only and those who were receiving both the savings and guarantee elements.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 departmental special advisers travelled (a) domestically and (b) abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost.

Maria Eagle: The special advisers for the Department for Work and Pensions did not travel abroad on any occasion between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.
	The special advisers did occasionally travel domestically in an official capacity during this period. On six of these occasions the advisers travelled by train with two visits to Newcastle, one to Manchester, one to Rotherham, one to Wakefield and one to Sheffield, each of these at the cost of standard open return ticket.
	These visits were undertaken in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

Telephone Costs

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated cost to his Department of unauthorised personal calls made by members of staff to (a) domestic numbers and (b) international numbers was in the last year for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: This information is not available.

Pensioners (Perth)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the total number of (a) pensioners and (b) pensioner households in Perth constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: In winter 2003–2004 there were 11,940 pensioner households in the parliamentary constituency of Perth, accounting for 16,390 pensioners.
	Notes:
	1. Pensioners are defined as those aged 60 or over.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	3. Figures are as at September 2003.
	4. Any residence found to have 4 or more occupants aged 60 and over is not included in the household figures as it is assumed to be RCNH (Residential Care/Nursing Home).
	5. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.

Pensions

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire of 9 December 2004, Official Report, column 664W, on pensions, what the proportions are in each (a) region and (b) local authority area in Scotland.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is in the table:
	
		
			  Men Women 
			  Population in each local authority or Region Percentage of relevant population in each local authority or Region Population in each local authority or Region Percentage of relevant population in each local authority or Region 
		
		
			 Aberdeen City 11,500 87.3 11,900 49.3 
			 Aberdeenshire 14,400 97.9 11,800 47.0 
			 Angus 7,700 91.6 6,800 46.3 
			 Argyll and Bute 5,800 78.6 6,400 49.1 
			 The Scottish Boarders 7,900 89.6 7,700 50.3 
			 Clackmannanshire 2,700 89.3 2,400 43.9 
			 West Dumbartonshire 5,200 91.7 6,300 54.8 
			 Dumfries and Galloway 10,900 85.5 10,300 47.3 
			 Dundee City 8,800 84.9 10,400 53.9 
			 East Ayrshire 7,300 89.9 8,200 54.8 
			 East Dumbartonshire 6,600 88.2 5,800 42.9 
			 East Lothian 6,500 97.0 5,800 48.5 
			 East Renfrewshire 5,700 96.8 5,700 50.9 
			 City of Edinburgh 23,700 86.5 25,300 48.9 
			 Falkirk 9,400 98.7 8,400 47.9 
			 Fife 22,500 94.6 20,700 47.2 
			 Glasgow City 28,400 84.8 37,300 54.6 
			 Highland 14,500 94.7 12,400 45.7 
			 Iverclyde 5,100 92.7 6,200 56.5 
			 Midlothian 4,800 92.5 4,500 48.1 
			 Moray 6,500 100.0 5,000 46.1 
			 North Ayrshire 8,200 88.0 8,400 47.9 
			 North Lanarkshire 16,600 89.7 18,100 50.6 
			 Orkney Islands 1,500 100.0 1,400 55.9 
			 Perth and Kinross 10,600 97.1 8,700 45.6 
			 Renfrewshire 10,400 94.1 10,700 51.6 
			 Shetland Isles 1,200 92.2 1,000 41.1 
			 South Ayrshire 7,700 84.9 8,600 52.7 
			 South Lanarkshire 18,800 97.9 17,800 45.8 
			 Stirling 5,600 99.1 4,900 46.4 
			 West Lothian 7,900 96.2 6,700 44.2 
			 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 1,300 58.5 1,600 40.6 
			 Scotland 305,500 91.0 307,100 49.4 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	2. Data is rounded to the nearest 100. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	3. Local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics postcode directory.
	4. Population figures are taken from mid-2003. Percentages shown as 100 may actually have been calculated as slightly higher than 100 i.e. the benefit caseload is apparently at least as high, if not higher, than the corresponding population figure.
	5. The relevant population refers to all males aged 65 and above and females aged 60 and above living in the specified areas.
	6. A full basic State Pension (£77.45 in 2003–04) is paid to those who fully satisfy the contribution conditions either in their own right or where applicable, on the basis of their late or former spouse's contributions.
	Sources:
	1. IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent, sample as at 31 March 2004.
	2. The Population data sources are the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the General Register Office, Scotland (GROS).

Video Conferencing

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many video conferencing units are installed in (a) the Department and (b) each agency of the Department; what percentage of offices have these facilities in each case; and what plans there are to increase the number.

Maria Eagle: There are currently 213 video conference (VC) units installed across the Department. A breakdown by building and agency is in the following table.
	
		
			 Business/agency Number of buildings Number of VC units installed Number of buildings with VC unit installed Percentage of buildings with facilities 
		
		
			 Disability and carers service 15 17 9 60 
			 Debt management 9 0 0 0 
			 The appeals services 33 15 12 36 
			 CSA 84 7 6 7 
			 Jobcentre plus 1,336 33 23 2 
			 The pensions service 102 61 41 40 
			 Corporate and shared services 109 80 37 34 
			 Total 1,688 213 128 8 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Some buildings are occupied by more than one business unit so may have been counted more than once.
	2. There are plans for a further 14 VC units in Jobcentre Plus, and other parts of the Department are considering the wider use of videoconferencing

Winter Fuel Payment

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of eligible people who have not received backdated winter fuel payments for the first three years of the scheme, broken down by region.

Malcolm Wicks: It is not possible to estimate with confidence how many people were eligible for backdated payments for the first three years of the scheme. Our working assumption was that about 1.9 million people could have been eligible of whom about 1.2 million have now been paid. There is no cut off date for these retrospective payments.

HEALTH

Asthma

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what services are available from the national health service for patients with asthma and allied disorders;
	(2)  how many people suffer from asthma and allied disorders;
	(3)  how many people were treated by the national health service for asthma and allied disorders in the last year for which figures are available;
	(4)  how much money was spent by his Department on people with asthma and allied disorders in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion this was of his Department's budget;
	(5)  what guidance is issued by his Department to (a) general practices and (b) hospitals about treating patients with asthma and allied disorders.
	(6)  what funding has been provided for research by his Department in the last seven years on (a) the causes of asthma and allied disorders and (b) tackling these conditions.

Stephen Ladyman: Most people with asthma receive an excellent service from their general practitioner, including advice on self-management and, where necessary, appropriate medicines. The GP may also refer patients to hospital for specialist investigation and treatment.
	Asthma is the most chronic disease in the United Kingdom. Accurate data for numbers affected are difficult to obtain. From the Office of National Statistics General Practice Database 1996 it was estimated that 6.7 per cent. of men and 6.9 per cent. of women in England and Wales were treated for asthma, about 3.5 million people.
	In 2003–04, the last year for which data are available, there were about 13,431,000 first outpatient appointments, 5,448,000 elective hospital admissions and 15,313,000 new accident and emergency attendances at national health service hospitals. In 2002, the last year for which data are available, there were about 241 million appointments with GPs. In addition, patients received advice and, in some cases, treatment in NHS walk-in centres, through NHS Direct and community pharmacies. It is not possible to derive from the estimates how many individuals were involved, or to estimate what proportion of all contacts with the NHS included advice and treatment for a specific condition, or to estimate what proportion of the total NHS budget is involved.
	Under the new primary medical care contracting arrangements a unique step has been taken in using indicators and information management across specific chronic disease areas, including asthma, to deliver improved outcomes for patients.
	New primary medical care contracting arrangements provide primary care trusts with enormous potential to improve the quality and access to a wider range of services for patients. It centres on a comprehensive quality and outcomes framework. This is like a national service framework, covering the whole of primary care, with substantial financial incentives attached, and constitutes the single biggest investment in quality care in the NHS. Lives will be saved through effective chronic disease management of specific conditions, like heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma.
	The main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology. The MRC spent some £12.6 million on asthma research in the four years from 1999–2000 to 2002–03. Information for the years 1997–98 and 1998–99 is not available.
	The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the NHS. In the six years from 1997–98 to 2003–04, the Department's national research programmes spent £9 million on projects related to asthma.
	Over 75 per cent., of the Department's total expenditure on health research is devolved to and managed by NHS organisations. From this funding, the NHS reported spending in support of respiratory diseases as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2002–03 23.5 
			 2003–04 29.1 
		
	
	This information was not collected centrally prior to 2002.

Celebrating Our Cultures

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health where the community engagement projects proposed in "Celebrating our Cultures" will be established; how much funding his Department is committing to the establishment of these projects; and what the timescale is for establishing them.

Rosie Winterton: The National Institute for Mental Health in England will invest £2 million in the national community engagement programme, which will comprise 80 projects run by non-statutory voluntary and community sector organisations across England over the next two years.
	14 pilot projects have been identified; an independent evaluation of them has been commissioned to inform the development of the remaining projects.

Celebrating Our Cultures

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what duties a community development worker employed as set out in "Celebrating our Cultures" will have.

Rosie Winterton: Community development workers will build capacity within communities, provide support to non-statutory sector groups, identify and access stakeholders, help articulate the needs and views of the communities they serve and facilitate better communication and better pathways to recovery in the non-statutory and statutory sectors. A detailed policy implementation guide on community development workers is due for publication very shortly.

Dental Practice Board

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual budget of the Dental Practice Board was in each year since 1997; and how many staff it employed in each year.

Rosie Winterton: The annual budget of the Dental Practice Board and the number of staff they have employed since 1997 are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Net operating cost (£ million) Staff number Staff whole time equivalent Estimated whole time at 90 per cent. Equivalent heads 
		
		
			 1996–97 21.2 578 — 520 
			 1997–98 23.5 520 — 468 
			 1998–99 23.0 480 — 432 
			 1999–2000 23.0 442 400 — 
			 2000–01 22.9 423 381 — 
			 2001–02 24.7 401 367 — 
			 2002–03 26.6 — 342 — 
			 2003–04 23.8 — 325 — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All the information has been derived directly from the audited accounts.
	2. The figures reflect the changes in accounting requirements and formats of information have changed over the years.
	3. The financial information is the equivalent of the current net operating cost, which is expenditure less operating income.
	4. The staff number information requirement has now changed from number of heads to whole time equivalent.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices are shown on the nhs.uk website; and how many of these were (a) registering new patients for NHS treatment, (b) registering new children aged up to 18 years, (c) registering charge-exempt adults for NHS treatment, (d) registering charge-paying adults for NHS treatment and (e) providing occasional NHS treatment to non-registered patients on the latest date for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: On 24 November 2004, there were 8,622 general and personal dental practices shown on the nhs.uk website as able to accept at least one category of patient for registration or occasional treatment under the national health service.
	The number of general and personal dental service practices shown on the website as accepting new NHS patients on 24 November 2004, is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of practices 
		
		
			 Registering children aged 0 to 18 years for NHS treatment 3,781 
			 Registering charge exempt adults for NHS treatment 2,833 
			 Registering charge paying adults for NHS treatment 2,485 
			 Providing occasional NHS treatment to non-registered patients 1,496

Dentistry

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists there are in each county in England per 10,000 of the population; how many accept NHS patients; and what the figures were in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

Rosie Winterton: Information by county is available on the number of general and personal dentists working in the national health service but not on how many are currently accepting new NHS patients. Numbers at September in the years 1997, 2001 and 2004 in each county in England per 10,000 of the population, are shown in the tables.
	
		Number of general and personal dental service dentistsper 100,000 of the population in each county in England at 30 September 1997, 2001 and 2004
		
			 County 1997 2001 2004 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire 33 44 34 
			 Buckinghamshire 46 48 49 
			 Cambridgeshire 34 39 40 
			 Cheshire 46 44 35 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 39 43 28 
			 Cumbria 38 39 38 
			 Derbyshire 35 39 42 
			 Devon 40 47 30 
			 Dorset 36 41 40 
			 Durham 34 33 36 
			 East Sussex 43 45 48 
			 Essex 38 41 40 
			 Gloucestershire 45 44 44 
			 Hampshire 36 42 42 
			 Hertfordshire 51 58 62 
			 Kent 42 41 41 
			 Lancashire 37 38 34 
			 Leicestershire 30 32 34 
			 Lincolnshire 24 27 25 
			 Norfolk 39 44 44 
			 Northamptonshire 29 29 41 
			 Northumberland 37 37 33 
			 North Yorkshire 38 41 36 
			 Nottinghamshire 36 42 39 
			 Oxfordshire 39 46 49 
			 Shropshire 35 41 38 
			 Somerset 38 41 40 
			 Staffordshire 30 33 33 
			 Suffolk 38 41 41 
			 Surrey 51 58 58 
			 Warwickshire 32 37 46 
			 West Sussex 44 52 61 
			 Wiltshire 34 39 35 
			 Worcestershire 39 38 40 
		
	
	Note:
	Some areas do not have county status even though they may lie within county boundaries. For these areas, the number of general and personal dental service dentists is given by local authority area. This information is given in the table.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board and resident population figures 1997, 2001 and 2004.
	
		Number of general and personal dental service dentistsper 100,000 of the population in local authorities not defined by county at 30 September 1997, 2001 and 2004
		
			 Local authority 1997 2001 2004 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 30 36 35 
			 Barnet 59 64 63 
			 Barnsley 37 40 28 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 50 56 55 
			 Bexley 41 41 45 
			 Birmingham 37 38 41 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 41 41 38 
			 Blackpool 36 39 34 
			 Bolton 42 41 38 
			 Bournemouth 47 55 53 
			 Bracknell Forest 41 44 50 
			 Bradford 36 34 31 
			 Brent 61 63 65 
			 Brighton and Hove 49 54 57 
			 Bristol, City of 48 52 49 
			 Bromley 48 50 55 
			 Bury 44 39 39 
			 Calderdale 37 38 38 
			 Camden 81 82 79 
			 City of London 212 82 144 
			 Coventry 31 37 41 
			 Croydon 53 56 59 
			 Darlington 33 43 49 
			 Derby 36 40 42 
			 Doncaster 35 38 33 
			 Dudley 31 35 39 
			 Ealing 71 63 51 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 25 26 25 
			 Enfield 42 47 55 
			 Gateshead 44 48 44 
			 Greenwich 45 46 50 
			 Hackney 45 41 39 
			 Halton 32 34 13 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 81 87 80 
			 Haringey 60 56 61 
			 Harrow 50 58 63 
			 Hartlepool 30 30 27 
			 Havering 38 47 53 
			 Herefordshire, County of 42 45 38 
			 Hillingdon 43 49 52 
			 Hounslow 68 71 54 
			 Isle of Wight 31 28 28 
			 Islington 51 74 66 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 58 51 50 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 30 38 33 
			 Kingston upon Thames 48 52 53 
			 Kirklees 38 43 35 
			 Knowsley 35 33 32 
			 Lambeth 50 46 51 
			 Leeds 41 44 37 
			 Leicester 45 43 43 
			 Lewisham 47 50 50 
			 Liverpool 44 40 37 
			 Luton 36 40 39 
			 Manchester 53 51 39 
			 Medway 38 39 45 
			 Merton 43 46 52 
			 Middlesbrough 48 56 57 
			 Milton Keynes 39 41 42 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 47 51 60 
			 Newham 37 38 39 
			 North East Lincolnshire 29 32 26 
			 North Lincolnshire 23 29 11 
			 North Somerset 46 52 56 
			 North Tyneside 69 71 38 
			 Nottingham 43 45 52 
			 Oldham 39 37 26 
			 Peterborough 32 39 46 
			 Plymouth 39 44 34 
			 Poole 35 40 63 
			 Portsmouth 32 39 40 
			 Reading 51 52 64 
			 Redbridge 48 60 61 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 41 41 40 
			 Richmond upon Thames 57 61 62 
			 Rochdale 35 31 27 
			 Rotherham 36 39 20 
			 Rutland 55 46 42 
			 Salford 42 42 37 
			 Sandwell 40 41 41 
			 Sefton 42 41 14 
			 Sheffield 40 43 29 
			 Slough 39 45 56 
			 Solihull 34 39 43 
			 South Gloucestershire 41 37 36 
			 South Tyneside 40 39 32 
			 Southampton 34 33 28 
			 Southend-on-Sea 35 41 37 
			 Southwark 46 38 40 
			 St. Helens 36 42 27 
			 Stockport 42 44 32 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 47 54 53 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 30 32 29 
			 Sunderland 31 37 41 
			 Sutton 51 57 61 
			 Swindon 36 39 39 
			 Tameside 35 37 27 
			 Telford and Wrekin 33 33 36 
			 Thurrock 24 28 31 
			 Torbay 46 56 41 
			 Tower Hamlets 36 36 46 
			 Trafford 47 53 49 
			 Wakefield 32 37 29 
			 Walsall 26 26 28 
			 Waltham Forest 37 42 47 
			 Wandsworth 59 65 57 
			 Warrington 39 44 22 
			 West Berkshire 32 40 43 
			 Westminster 113 103 83 
			 Wigan 38 39 38 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 38 50 63 
			 Wirral 46 49 11 
			 Wokingham 31 38 42 
			 Wolverhampton 31 34 40 
			 York 46 56 45 
		
	
	Note:
	Population figures for 1997 and 2001 are based on 2001 projections for the resident population for counties and local authorities. Population figures for 2004 are based on 2003 resident population projections.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board and resident population figures for 1997, 2001 and 2004.

Departmental Advertising

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which Muslim newspapers the Department advertises; and what kinds of advertising the Department places in Muslim newspapers.

Rosie Winterton: The Department used the following Muslim newspapers during 2003–04 to advertise the flu immunisation campaign:
	Muslim News
	Muslim Weekly
	The Department also advertises in ethnic minority press, not specifically Muslim media, as part of integrated campaigns using media mix, including television, national and women's professional press and online where it is appropriate to target this audience.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by his Department and which took place on non-departmental premises in each of the last two years; giving the (i) title, (ii) purpose, (iii) date and (iv) cost of each.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Diabetes

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to encourage diabetic patients to report adverse reactions to (a) human and (b) animal insulin treatments to the Committee on the Safety of Medicine;
	(2)  if he will list the known side effects of (a) human and (b) animal insulin in the treatment of diabetes; and if he will ensure a drug reporting system is in place to monitor abnormalities arising from such treatments;
	(3)  if he will ensure that the guidelines for general practitioners on administering human insulin to diabetic patients include the latest information regarding its side-effects; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 13 December 2004
	As with all medicines, the safety of human and animal insulin is continuously monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the committee on safety of medicines (CSM).
	The known side-effects for human and animal insulin are listed in the summary of product characteristics and patient information leaflet for each individual product. Information for prescribers is also available in the British National Formulary (BNF). The product information for prescribers and patients is amended as new information on side effects emerges. The most frequent side effect of both human and animal insulin is hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). Other side effects include reactions around the injection site, allergic reactions and oedema (swelling).
	MHRA/CSM receives reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) submitted by doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and coroners via the yellow card scheme. There is also a legal requirement for companies to report suspected ADRs to their drugs.
	Enabling patients directly to report suspected ADRs to the MHRA was one of the recommendations made in the Report of an "Independent Review of the Yellow Card Scheme", published in May 2004. On the publication of the independent review report aforementioned, my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for State for Health, the Lord Warner, immediately accepted the recommendation to introduce direct patient reporting of suspected ADRs.
	A working group of the CSM, under the chairmanship of a lay member of the CSM, has been established to advise on the development of pilots to gauge effectiveness of mechanisms for patient reporting of suspected ADRs. The working group has wide representation from patient and consumer groups, wider academia, pharmacy and medicine.

Diabetes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people with diabetes were offered screening for the early detection of diabetic retinopathy in the last period for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: Figures show that, in 2003–04, 53 per cent., of people identified with diabetes in England received screening for the early detection of diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the funds available to support the target for diabetic retinopathy screening contained within the 2003 to 2006 planning and performance framework has been allocated.

Rosie Winterton: The Diabetes national service framework delivery strategy announced that capital funds would be available to support the purchase of digital cameras and related equipment for diabetic retinopathy screening to support implementation of the planning and performance framework target. Capital funding of £27 million is available. £14.6 million capital has been made available to strategic health authorities to distribute locally—£5 million in 2003–04 and £9.6 million in 2004–05. A further £12.4 million will be available in 2005–06.

Diabetes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made towards ensuring that (a) all those people diagnosed with diabetes and (b) all people at an increased risk of developing diabetes, are included on practice-based registers.

Rosie Winterton: By March 2006, primary care trusts (PCTs) need to ensure that practice based registers are updated and used as a basis of systematic treatment regimens with advice and treatment in line with the diabetes national service framework standards.
	The number of people with diabetes on practice-based registers is increasing. In March 2004, PCTs were reporting that there were 1,545 million patients identified by practices as having diabetes. This rose to 1.604 million in September 2004.
	The PBS Diabetes Population Prevalence model has been developed by the Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory. This model estimates the total diabetes population prevalence—that is, diagnosed plus undiagnosed cases. This allows strategic health authorities and PCTs to identify the number of people with diabetes not identified on practice based registers and to develop robust systems for identifying people with diabetes in their area. The model can be found at http://www.yhpho.org.uk/.
	The recently published "Choosing Health" White Paper set out a strategy to help people make healthier choices and to reduce levels of obesity, which increases an individual's risk of developing diabetes.
	Pilot projects have been established for screening of those at high risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. A study is being carried out in eight PCTs in deprived areas with high ethnic populations to demonstrate whether systematic screening in primary care is feasible, cost effective and leads to better health care.

Doctors Surgeries

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average list size is of general practitioners in (a) North Southwark and Bermondsey, (b) the London Borough of Southwark and (c) Greater London.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is collected for primary care trust (PCT) areas. The average list size of unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs) in the PCTs in the South East London Strategic Health Authority area is shown in the table.
	
		Average list size of unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)1 by PCT in London as at 30 September 2003 -- Number (headcount)
		
			Unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs) Patients of UPEs Average list size 
		
		
			  England  28,568 52,713,780 1,845 
			   
			  London  4,134 8,357,783 2,022 
			   
			 Q05 North Central London 705 1,423,532 2,019 
			  5A9 Barnet PCT 204 376,448 1,845 
			  5K7 Camden PCT 118 246,705 2,091 
			  5C1 Enfield PCT 138 289,642 2,099 
			  5C9 Haringey PCT 136 288,120 2,119 
			  5K8 Islington PCT 109 222,617 2,042 
			   
			 Q04 North West London 1,001 2,083,156 2,081 
			  5K5 Brent PCT 174 352,148 2,024 
			  5HX Ealing PCT 172 361,069 2,099 
			  5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 92 188,199 2,046 
			  5K6 Harrow PCT 134 222,615 1,661 
			  5AT Hillingdon PCT 127 258,940 2,039 
			  5HY Hounslow PCT 120 253,558 2,113 
			  5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT 82 195,743 2,387 
			  5LC Westminster PCT 100 250,884 2,509 
			   
			 Q06 North East London 796 1,716,696 2,157 
			  5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT 70 170,493 2,436 
			  5C3 City and Hackney PCT 133 271,202 2,039 
			  5A4 Havering PCT 108 248,029 2,297 
			  5C5 Newham PCT 126 305,285 2,423 
			  5NA Redbridge PCT 115 243,463 2,117 
			  5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT 114 220,739 1,936 
			  5NC Waltham Forest PCT 130 257,484 1,981 
			   
			 Q07 South East London 880 1,706,031 1,939 
			  TAK Bexley Care Trust 110 220,748 2,007 
			  5A7 Bromley PCT 167 316,819 1,897 
			  5A8 Greenwich PCT 108 253,156 2,344 
			  5LD Lambeth PCT 189 353,962 1,873 
			  5LF Lewisham PCT 149 279,822 1,878 
			  5LE Southwark PCT 157 281,524 1,793 
			   
			 Q08 South West London 752 1,428,368 1,899 
			  5K9 Croydon PCT 181 359,756 1,988 
			  5A5 Kingston PCT 93 177,468 1,908 
			  5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 97 197,985 2,041 
			  5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT 207 383,794 1,854 
			  5LG Wandsworth PCT 174 309,365 1,778 
		
	
	(35) UPEs include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.
	Note:
	Patient data have been revised from previously published figures.
	Source:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

Drug Overdoses

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many confirmed deaths there were in 2003 from drug overdoses involving (a) methadone use and (b) buprenorphine use.

Melanie Johnson: The most recently available information on the number of drug related deaths is for 2002 1 . The figures show for the second consecutive year, a reduction in the overall number of drug related deaths.
	In 2002 there were 216 deaths from drug poisoning involving methadone 2 and two deaths from drug poisoning involving buprenorphine.
	1 Data are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.
	2 Source: Office for National Statistics. Report. Deaths related to drug poisoning, England and Wales 1998–02. Health Statistics Quarterly 21, 59–66.

E-mail

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce an automatic e-mail notification facility for announcements and publications issued by his Department and those public bodies reporting to him.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's website does not currently have the technology in place to allow users to subscribe to an e-mail notification facility. However, we do send e-mails to alert recipients of our online bulletins when new editions are published.
	We are investigating how we might introduce this technology to improve the service we provide for users of the Department's website.
	In addition, the Department is an active contributor to the "Info4local" website for local authorities, which does offer e-mail notifications.

Generic Prescribing

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what targets have been set by his Department on increasing generic prescribing in the community; what progress has been made in meeting these targets; and what savings have been made as a result;
	(2)  what his latest estimate is of the community generic prescribing rate; and if he will estimate how much the NHS in England would save if community generic prescribing levels increased to 80 per cent.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's Public Service Agreement for 1999–02 included targets to increase the generic prescribing rate for all practices in England to an average 72 per cent., and to move at least half of those practices with a generic prescribing rate below 40 per cent., to above that level—both to be achieved by March 2002. Those targets were achieved. The average rate of generic prescribing in England has reached 78 per cent., and some primary care trusts are achieving rates in excess of 85 per cent. The savings from increasing the current figure to 80 per cent., are likely to be relatively modest, but we have not made an estimate.

Health Forum

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the independent regular forum with regional and national media to discuss health issues will be attended by Ministers from the Department; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The details of an independent regular forum with national and local media as outlined in the "Choosing Health" White Paper are still being finalised, but once they are clear, I will give full consideration to the involvement of Ministers.

Health Funding (North-west)

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made for central funding of health per capita in (a) Burnley, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West in each of the next three years.

Melanie Johnson: The table shows the 2005–06 revenue funding per un-weighted head of population for primary care trusts (PCTs) in the North West, which also covers Burnley and Lancashire.
	The 2006–07 and 2007–08 revenue allocations have not yet been determined. Work has commenced on the next round of allocations, covering the period 2006–07 to 2007–08. The next round of revenue allocations will be announced early in the new year.
	
		North West 2005–06: PCT allocations per un-weightedhead of population
		
			 PCT 2005–06 allocation per un-weighted(36) head of population (£) 
		
		
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan 1,185 
			 Bebington and West Wirral 1,165 
			 Birkenhead and Wallasey 1,278 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 1,197 
			 Blackpool 1,291 
			 Bolton 1,146 
			 Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale 1,181 
			 Bury 1,087 
			 Carlisle and District 1,081 
			 Central Cheshire 986 
			 Central Liverpool 1,405 
			 Central Manchester 1,383 
			 Cheshire West 1,036 
			 Chorley and South Ribble 986 
			 Eastern Cheshire 1,024 
			 Eden Valley 985 
			 Ellesmere Port and Neston 1,102 
			 Fylde 1,133 
			 Halton 1,268 
			 Heywood and Middleton 1,206 
			 Hyndburn and Ribble Valley 1,137 
			 Knowsley 1,319 
			 Morecambe Bay 1,121 
			 North Liverpool 1,394 
			 North Manchester 1,549 
			 Oldham 1,173 
			 Preston 1,237 
			 Rochdale 1,194 
			 Salford 1,346 
			 South Liverpool 1,376 
			 South Manchester 1,297 
			 South Sefton 1,244 
			 Southport and Formby 1,165 
			 St. Helens 1,195 
			 Stockport 1,051 
			 Tameside and Glossop 1,174 
			 Trafford North 1,162 
			 Trafford South 1,088 
			 Warrington 1,040 
			 West Cumbria 1,118 
			 West Lancashire 1,094 
			 Wyre 1,156 
		
	
	(36) Un-weighted population figures are supplied by the Office for National Statistics. Un-weighted head of population allocation figures have not been modified for age, need and cost in accordance with the formula which is used to inform allocations.

Health Services (Lewisham, Deptford)

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department has taken to improve primary healthcare services in the Lewisham, Deptford constituency since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: As a result of the Department's "Shifting the Balance of Power" initiative, responsibility for commissioning and improving health services has been delegated to primary care trusts (PCTs). The Department sets out a national framework and strategic health authorities ((SHAs) performance manage the PCTs to ensure these are adhered to.
	The November 2004 primary care access survey results show that, nationally, 99 per cent. of patients were able to be offered an appointment within two working days to see a general practitioner, and 99 per cent. of patients were able to be offered an appointment within one working day to see a primary care professional.
	Locally, information is not collected for parliamentary constituencies. However, the Department is able to confirm that recent investment in South East London primary care services includes:
	The development of a £2 million Walk-in Centre on Goodward Road in New Cross, Lewisham PCT.
	A planned local improvement finance trust project to deliver improved care facilities for the three boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.

Heart Attacks

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether there is a correlation between increases in air pollution and rates of heart attacks; and how many deaths from heart attacks were ascribed to this cause, in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 14 December 2004
	The committee on the medical effects of air pollutants (COMEAP) is currently completing a report on the association between air pollution and cardiovascular disease. It is clear that daily variations in concentrations of air pollutants, including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide are associated with changes in daily rates of heart attacks and other acute cardiovascular events. The exact mechanisms of effects are not, however, yet clear. Long-term exposure to fine particles and to sulphur dioxide is associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular causes: again, the mechanisms of effect are unclear.
	The COMEAP report will be published in 2005. COMEAP will then begin to revise its earlier report on the quantification of the effects of air pollutants on health in the United Kingdom. Attention will be paid to the associations between air pollutants and cardiovascular disease.

Hospital Cleaning Audit

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will conduct an audit in early 2005 to assess whether his Department's guidance on improving hospital cleaning to fight MRSA is being implemented.

Melanie Johnson: National health service trusts have been set a target to reduce Methicillin resistant "Staphylococcus aureus" rates by 50 per cent., by 2008 and they will be judged on their performance against this target. The "Guide to Contracting for Cleaning" is one of a number of tools which have been made available to the NHS and it has been made clear that NHS trusts are expected to follow this guidance and to make resources available.
	It is for the Healthcare Commission to assess the performance of hospital trusts in meeting the "Standards for Better Health", published in 2004.

Hospital Infections

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cleaning materials to combat MRSA are being assessed by the Health Protection Agency.

Melanie Johnson: At the Department's request, the Health Protection Agency has convened a rapid review panel to consider the evidence relating to claims concerning prevention or control of infections such as Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This is an ongoing process and to date five products, which could be used for cleaning, have been assessed and reports on these products will be published shortly.

Human Rights Act

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases have been brought against his Department under the Human Rights Act 1998; and what the cost has been in (a) legal fees to defend cases and (b) compensation payments.

Rosie Winterton: In line with policy and practice in other Government Departments, the Department of Health does not record separately those cases, which are brought against the Department involving the Human Rights Act 1998. Human rights are integrated into the general law and are rarely the sole basis of challenge. This makes them very difficult to count separately.

IT Systems (GP Practices)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on negotiations to introduce agreed IT systems into general practitioner practices.

John Hutton: The national programme for information technology in England (NPfIT) has, from its inception, consulted closely with individual expert primary care practitioners, including practising general practitioners, as well as the national professional bodies and groups. This consultation helped to inform the user requirement which was published in the programme's output-based specification. Clinicians and users were also involved in evaluating the proof of solution demonstrators developed by suppliers, and in evaluating the supplier bid. In the procurement and delivery process, particularly in the development and testing phases, representative stakeholders are being consulted to ensure that their requirements and concerns are taken into account.
	Local service providers (LSPs) act as prime contractors to deliver the elements of the national programme in a geographical area. It is the primary responsibility of the LSPs to work with a range of other suppliers to deliver the solutions that the national health service needs. This includes working with primary care system providers to ensure that the systems in use across the NHS conform to the national standards required and can be upgraded to integrate with new national applications as they come on line. All systems developed by suppliers contracted under NPfIT are subject to stringent testing prior to acceptance. All systems, whether NPfIT systems or existing GP or hospital systems, are subject to integration testing to ensure compliance. All systems are also made available to users in a "model community" environment for evaluation and feedback.

LIFT Programme (Newcastle)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been allocated to schemes under the Local Investment Finance Trust (LIFT) programme in the Newcastle primary care trust area; how much has been spent; and what the planned opening dates of new facilities financed under LIFT in the City of Newcastle are.

Melanie Johnson: Newcastle primary care trust has been allocated £1.58 million in capital enabling funds and this has been used to support the delivery of new primary care premises at Brunton Park and Kenton Resource Centre, both opening to patients in March 2005 and Walker Health Centre, opening to patients in May 2005.

Local Authorities/Primary CareTrusts

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what scores were achieved by each (a) local authority and (b) primary care trust in (i) Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and (ii) Easington against each indicator used to determine the spearhead group of local authorities and primary care trusts; and what the source of each score was.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
	The spearhead group is based upon the local authorities (LAs) which are in the "worst" fifth of areas for three or more of the following five factors:
	Male life expectancy at birth.
	Female life expectancy at birth.
	Cancer mortality rate, under 75s.
	Circulatory disease mortality rate, under 75s.
	Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 (LA summary), average score.
	The "worst" fifth of areas are identified as those with the shortest, that is, lowest average life expectancy and highest mortality rates and deprivation scores.
	The spearhead group is identified in terms of LAs, using LA data. The spearhead group primary care trusts (PCTs) are identified as those PCTs that overlap geographically, either wholly or in part, with the spearhead group LAs. A PCT is not included in the spearhead group based on the data for the PCT, but based on the data for the LAs covering the same geographical area.
	The source of data on life expectancy at birth is the Office for National Statistics (ONS) at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=8841&More=n.
	The source of data on mortality in people under 75 is the ONS mortality data set via the national centre for health outcomes development compendium of clinical and health indicators—available to NHS users only.
	The indices of multiple deprivation are published by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister at http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_control/documents/contentservertemplate/odpm_index.hcst?n= 4610&l=3.
	
		Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Easington rankings for the Spearhead Group
		
			  Data period 1995–97 
			  All cancers (persons aged under 75) Circulatory disease (persons aged under 75) Male life expectancy at birth Female life expectancy at birth 
			 Local authority Ranking(37) Score(38) Ranking Score Ranking Score Ranking Score 
		
		
			 Basingstoke and Deane 181 0 143 0 185 0 202 0 
			 East Hampshire 219 0 203 0 191 0 177 0 
			 Eastleigh 239 0 282 0 272 0 316 0 
			 Fareham 311 0 282 0 344 0 316 0 
			 Gosport 39 1 128 0 83 0 80 0 
			 Hart 282 0 296 0 301 0 258 0 
			 Havant 138 0 170 0 212 0 108 0 
			 Isle of Wight 297 0 191 0 166 0 258 0 
			 New Forest 275 0 311 0 301 0 311 0 
			 Portsmouth 76 0 81 0 99 0 74 0 
			 Rushmoor 199 0 243 0 166 0 160 0 
			 Southampton 70 1 116 0 99 0 135 0 
			 Test Valley 331 0 269 0 292 0 219 0 
			 Winchester 275 0 296 0 321 0 281 0 
			 Easington 22 1 1 1 31 1 4 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Indices of Multiple Deprivation (2004) 
			  Ranked by LA average score Score Number of times score is in'worst' fifth 
		
		
			 Basingstoke and Deane 311 0 0 
			 East Hampshire 326 0 0 
			 Eastleigh 309 0 0 
			 Fareham 328 0 0 
			 Gosport 189 0 1 
			 Hart 352 0 0 
			 Havant 137 0 0 
			 Isle of Wight 126 0 0 
			 New Forest 284 0 0 
			 Portsmouth 88 0 0 
			 Rushmoor 285 0 0 
			 Southampton 96 0 1 
			 Test Valley 315 0 0 
			 Winchester 336 0 0 
			 Easington 8 1 5 
		
	
	(37) All rankings shown in the table are out of 352 local authorities, of which those ranked 71 or lower fall in to the 'worst' fifth in England. City of London and the Scilly Isles are excluded from the ranking list because of small numbers.
	(38) Where the score is shown as "1" in the table then the ranking of the local authority falls in to the "worst" fifth in England, otherwise the score is zero.
	Note:
	The Spearhead Group is the group of local authorities that appear at least three times in the "worst' fifth.

Long-term Care (Coventry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many older people are in receipt of long-term care in the Coventry area.

Stephen Ladyman: In March 2001, there were 2,140 care home places in Coventry for adults aged 65 and over. This includes places in residential care homes, general and mental health nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics. Information about the number of people in those places is not centrally available.

Medical Imaging Records

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that medical imaging records can be transferred between health regions.

John Hutton: holding answer 13 December 2004
	The latest digital technology for capturing, storing, distributing and displaying static or moving images such as X-rays or scans—picture archiving and communications systems (PACS)—has now been designated a core service within the national programme for information technology (NPfIT) in the national health service in England. PACS takes away any need to print on film and to file or distribute images manually.
	NPfIT has produced a comprehensive common specification for what a PACS system needs to achieve, and local systems must link to the national data "spine" of the NHS care record service. This will ensure that images can be sent between, and viewed remotely and across, NHS locations, leading to more efficient diagnosis and treatment.By maximising the economies of scale and negotiating pan-regional contracts with their local services providers, NPfIT has been able to negotiate PACS at substantially reduced prices over the prices previously paid by individual trusts. It has also agreed an implementation plan for early deployment. Implementation has begun at the first early-adopter sites, where systems will go live across acute trusts and primary care trusts from January 2005. The plan envisages PACS to be in place in 80 per cent. of user organisations by March 2006, and in 100 per cent. of organisations by March 2007.

Ministerial Meetings

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list his official engagements over the last six months; who was present at each meeting; what the (a) date and (b) location was of each meeting; what issues were discussed; and what plans he has to establish a public register of such information.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's Ministers meet many individuals and organisations and attend many functions relating to Government business, and as part of the process of policy development. To provide the detailed information requested would incur disproportionate cost. The daily on the record briefing by the Prime Minister's official spokesman regularly provides details of Ministers' public engagements.

MRSA

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the MRSA cases reported in 2003–04 in the West Midlands resulted in death.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 14 December 2004
	Mandatory Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus surveillance does not collect information on the number of deaths.

Neo-natal Hearing Screening

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial resources have been made available in areas piloting neo-natal hearing screening to support early intervention where a hearing problem has been identified.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 14 December 2004
	Primary care trusts are responsible for ensuring that resources from their general allocations are available to support children when a hearing problem has been identified. On joining the modernising hearing aids service programme, all national health service departments have been given funding to provide digital hearing aids to all of the children on their caseload within two years. We therefore expect all such children in England to have digital hearing aids by March 2007 at the latest.

Neo-natal Hearing Screening

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which areas are participating in the pilot of neo-natal hearing screening; what assessment has been made of the pilot schemes; and when the programme will be rolled out across the country.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 14 December 2004
	A list of sites now offering newborn hearing screening has been placed in the Library. Overall, about 70 per cent. of all newborn babies are now being screened. It is currently planned that the remaining areas of England will be participating in the programme by December 2005.
	The experience of the 23 phase one sites has informed the roll out and is the subject of a detailed evaluation.

Parliamentary Questions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what target his Department sets for the maximum acceptable time to respond in full to a parliamentary question; and what percentage of answers given by his Department failed to meet this target in each parliamentary session from 1997–98 to 2003–04.

Rosie Winterton: The Department aims to ensure that hon. and right hon. Members receive a substantive response to their named day question on the named day and to endeavour to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled. The Department makes every effort to achieve these timescales but, unfortunately this is not always possible.

Skipton Fund

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the appeal procedures for the Skipton Fund are with regard to (a) the number of lay people and (b) the number of medical members on the appeal panel; what qualifications are expected of them; and how members of the panel are selected;
	(2)  what criteria are used to select lay members of the appeal panel for the Skipton Fund;
	(3)  how many members of the appeal panel of the Skipton Fund are from the legal profession;
	(4)  where in Scotland appeal panels for the Skipton Fund sit;
	(5)  whether legal members of the appeal panel for the Skipton Fund are selected from within the Scottish Justice System when hearing appeals from Scottish applicants;
	(6)  whether appellants of the Skipton Fund are able to attend panel hearings;
	(7)  whether appellants of the Skipton Fund have access to expert opinion to challenge the decision of the medical pane;
	(8)  whether the documents used by the Skipton Fund in reaching decisions are made available to the appellant;
	(9)  whether applicants are entitled to (a) legal representation and (b) legal aid when appealing Skipton Fund decisions;
	(10)  whether the funding for the appeals panel for Skipton Fund decisions comes from the Skipton Fund;
	(11)  how many unsuccessful applicants to the Skipton Fund have requested an appeal; and how many unsuccessful applicants have had an appeal heard;
	(12)  what his estimate is of the percentage of those who apply for an appeal to the Skipton Fund whose appeal is heard;
	(13)  how many appellants to the Skipton Fund have been successful in their appeal.

Melanie Johnson: Patient groups have been consulted and have commented on an initial proposal for the appeals process and membership of an independent appeals panel. The United Kingdom health departments are now considering arrangements for the appeals process and the appointment of the panel.
	Appointments will be made through the public appointments process. Funding for the appeals panel will be made available from the central departmental budget allocated to the Skipton Fund.
	In England and Wales, decisions on the granting of legal aid are a matter for the Community Legal Service. The Skipton Fund will not meet any legal or other expenses incurred by an applicant.

Skipton Fund

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional funding is given to the MacFarlane Trust to enable it to administer the Skipton Fund; and where the additional funding comes from.

Melanie Johnson: The Macfarlane Trust does not administer the Skipton Fund.
	Three trustees and the chairman and chief executive of the Macfarlane Trust were asked to take on the role of directors and company secretary for the Skipton Fund on an interim basis. This decision was made so that we could make progress with establishing the Skipton Fund. The trustees have a background in management, administration and working with haemophilia patients.

Skipton Fund

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people have made an application to the Skipton Fund for compensation;
	(2)  how many applicants to the Skipton Fund have received the first stage payment of £20,000; and how many applicants have gone on to receive the further stage payment of £25,000;
	(3)  how many applicants to the Skipton Fund have had their (a) Stage 1 and (b) Stage 2 applications (i) declined and (ii) accepted;
	(4)  how many applicants to the Skipton Fund have applications outstanding for (a) Stage 1 and (b) Stage 2 compensation payments;
	(5)  if he will estimate the total sum paid to date for (a) Stage 1 and (b) Stage 2 compensation from the Skipton Fund.

Melanie Johnson: Information on the number of number of stage one and stage two applications received by the Skipton Fund and their status is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Stage one applications Stage two applications 
		
		
			 Application forms dispatched(39) 4,526 382 
			 Total completed applications received 3,139 137 
			 Number of applications paid 2,560 112 
			 Number of applications declined 146 (40)4 
			 Number of applications which have not been fully completed and have been returned to the applicants clinician 281 10 
			 Number of applications being processed 152 11 
			 Total amount paid to claimants (£) 51,200,000 2,800,000 
		
	
	(39) Figures as at 6 December 2004.
	(40) A small number of stage two applications have been deferred because the claimants do not yet meet the criteria.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether he has been informed of breaches of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers in his Department since its implementation;
	(2)  how many appeals were made by civil servants to the Civil Service Commissioners regarding special advisers in his Department between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004; and when each appeal was lodged.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 8 December 2004, Official Report, column 578W by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office, Ruth Kelly.

Temporary Medical Staff

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total cost of temporary (a) nurses, (b) doctors and (c) staff in the NHS in (i) England and (ii) each primary care trust in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The figures shown in the table relate to all costs of temporary staff employed in the national health service since 1997. Figures for 2003–04 are provisional and unaudited. Primary care trust (PCT) data are available from 2000 and information about temporary staffing spend has been placed in the Library.
	
		Hospital and community health services expenditure on temporary staff in England -- £
		
			  Temporary nurses(41) Temporary doctors(42) Total temporary staff(43) 
		
		
			 1997–98 216,338,567 87,273,079 480,056,334 
			 1998–99 272,225,162 93,524,750 585,555,208 
			 1999–2000 361,656,683 106,125,019 730,080,550 
			 2000–01(44) 435,431,882 138,342,148 912,315,525 
			 2001–02 554,323,821 197,775,563 1,189,073,367 
			 2002–03 589,738,042 278,530,346 1,420,956,862 
			 2003–04(45) 524,675,129 344,759,550 1,465,853,757 
		
	
	(41) Temporary nurses = non-NHS nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff.
	(42) Temporary doctors = non-NHS medical staff.
	(43) Total temporary staff = total non-NHS staff.
	(44) 2000–01 is the first year for which PCT data are available.
	(45) 2003–04 data are provisional.
	Sources:
	Annual financial returns of health authorities 1997–98 to 2001–02.
	Annual financial returns of strategic health authorities 2002–03 to 2003–04.
	Annual financial returns of NHS trusts 1997–98 to 2003–04.
	Annual financial returns of primary care trusts 2000–01 to 2003–04.

Third-world Health

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what aid his Department is giving to third world countries on health issues.

John Hutton: The provision of aid to the developing world is an issue where the Department for International Development (DFID) leads. We work with DFID to ensure the priorities of international organisations, such as the World Health Organisation, take full account of the requirements of developing countries.

Travel Costs

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total travel costs to his Department have been for (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials for each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 9 December 2004
	Since 1999, the Government publishes, on an annual basis, the total costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500. Copies of the lists are available in the Library. Travel costs for those special advisers who
	accompany their Ministers overseas are included in the annual list on Overseas Travel by Cabinet Ministers.
	The travel costs given for Ministers' offices include Ministers, their officials and special advisors where appropriate. The Department's finance systems do not maintain information by individual Minister or special advisor. Information on travel costs has not been maintained, separate from other business expenses, since April 2004.
	
		
			 Ministers' offices Year Expenditure (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98 376,376 
			 1998–99 427,970 
			 1999–2000 508,932 
			 2000–01 557,042 
			 2001–02 480,855 
			 2002–03 511,899 
			 2003–04 595,043 
		
	
	
		
			 Department Year Expenditure (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98 6,592,081 
			 1998–99 5,814,365 
			 1999–2000 7,080,034 
			 2000–01 7,295,706 
			 2001–02 7,972,843 
			 2002–03 7,607,890 
			 2003–04 8,211,382 
		
	
	All travel is undertaken in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

Treatment Funding

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to primary care trusts of the consequences of refusing to fund medical treatments or technologies solely because they have not been approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Rosie Winterton: Health Service Circular 1999–176, issued in August 1999, indicates that national health service bodies should continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from National Institute for Clinical Excellence is not available at the time the technology first becomes available. These arrangements should involve an assessment of the available evidence.